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Endurance requires a variety of skills, and a horse can do well if it is pretty 
good at most of them, even if it does not excel at any of them.  For instance, 
speed--endurance is a timed sport, so an endurance horse must be somewhat 
swift, but need not have that fraction of an edge required to win races.  
Endurance requires the sort of agility needed in dressage or cutting or 
reining--but an endurance horse need not be so good at it as to be able to do 
Grand Prix, or its equivalent in sports that require similar specialized 
skills.  Endurance also requires a horse that will accept all sorts of 
situations and not lose his cool--he must take care of himself in all weathers, 
in all social settings, etc.--whereas the "specialist" can slot into one role 
with a fragile psyche and not have to adapt.  

Additionally, a really good endurance horse can cross disciplines into just 
about anything and do a creditable job, even if he isn't at the top of the 
game.  He can adapt to dressage, reining, racing (usually they do that first), 
jumping, driving, whatever--because they have the general ability to be overall 
athletes.  Many top endurance horses do have other "careers"--either during 
off-seasons or at other times in their lives.  They are survivalists, and tend 
to adapt to whatever they are asked.

Think about specialization--if ALL a horse can do is run, he won't be good at 
endurance, even if he is really good at running.  If ALL a horse can do is a 
soft little jog, he won't be very good at endurance, even if he is really good 
at jogging.  If ALL a horse can do is park, he won't make a very good endurance 
horse, even if he is really good at parking.  Etc....

Heidi

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [SPAM] RE: [RC]   Proving Stallions (or mares for that matter)
> From: Lauren Horn <4horn4@xxxxxxx>
> Date: Fri, October 19, 2007 4:05 pm
> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Heidi,
>
> What do you mean by "generalist" sport. I would have thought it was a  
> specialty.
>
>       Remember that endurance is a "generalist" sport, not a "specialty."
>
> Lauren
>
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