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[RC] Newbie with a Concern - JaneeneHi,
I just attended my first endurance ride this weekend (the Texas Tango), and I had a great time as a volunteer. The ride was well-organized, people were extremely helpful and friendly, and it was just an overall great experience and it definitely motivated me to get more involved (I'm planning to do a 25 at next month's Armadillo). Here's my concern: the number of what I consider "skinny" horses I saw at this ride. Now, I know that human marathon runners are lean and sometimes downright skinny, but, if I had seen some of these horses in someone's pasture, I would have called a rescue to report neglect. To be fair, the top riders and their horses were not guilty of this; for the most part, their horses looked lean, but in good flesh and well-conditioned. The first-time riders seemed to all have horses in good weight. There were, however, a very large number of horses that just looked downright underweight (ribby with toplines prominent and hipbones protruding). What is up with this?&nbs p; Is it due to overconditioning? Underfeeding? Stress? I really am getting hooked with this sport, but I want to do right by my horses. I would love to hear some feedback from you guys.... Thanks in advance! Janeene in Central Texas
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