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Re: [RC] Big horses in endurance - Charlesey CharltonI have been competing in LD's for the last couple of years on my very large QH gelding(15.3 @ 1250lbs)that I raised. Dan does very well but given his muscle mass he has very slow recovery and recently has been coming up lame, I would say yes you can do this sport on a large horse, but you must bare in mind that they have obstacles to over come. And training for a ride on a large QH type IS SO different than training with an Arab. To keep Dan in shape I ride 3-4 times a week 6-8 mile rides, and he can complete a 25-30 with little or no problem, but I don't think I could ever ask him to do a 50. I love Dan too much to continue doing rides on him SO I recently bought an arab in hopes of moving up to 50's. Charlesey Charlton East Tennessee From: wendy mancini <wendym2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: RideCamp <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 6:27:46 PM Subject: [RC] Big horses in endurance I started endurance on a little
QH - 14.2 but his ideal wt is 950 lb. He did his first CTR & endurance
at age 18. What I have learned from him is that QH take a little
longer to develop the distance muscles but they certainly can. He's a
black bay and even in 100+ temps recovers as fast or faster than some
Arabs. Feed hi fat feed like, Ultium or XTN - there are
others. With QH it's best to avoid the hi sugar feeds.
Since Jim is in his 20s
(turning 26), I have a younger guy I've been bringing along. Danza is
a 15.3 QH and 1050 -1100. From age 5 - 8 we just did a lot of LSD, speeded
up in 2007 and did 2 - 1 day 100 in very nice time. Then he tor a hind
suspensory & has been out for a year. Fully healed now & completed
a nice 50 in Nov in 5.5 hr.
My point is, yes they can.
It just takes a little different strategy. The LSD builds long lean
muscle. I'm still battling some bulky muscle on Danza. I know with
the next 1000 miles it will be gone.
Wendy Mancini
Old Meadow Jim
Dusty Grand Bonanza (aka
Danza)
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