Diane's point about cannon bone and weight makes a lot more sense
My TB has good 8.5" cannons, but even at 15.3 he looks very dainty
next to some of the QH's at the ranch. I'll have to measure Thunder's
cannons some day, but if they're under 10" I'll eat a powerbar.
... and Thunder's shorter at the withers than Magnum is. If I was
heavier, I'm not sure how Magnum would hold up long term. I'll bet
Magnum could jump like he has wings though...
I ride the beast in a Kimberwick with dual reins. I try to only
use the "snaffle" reins. He goes really well in it, but it's a pain
at the vetchecks. Magnum's a little weird in that he seems to be
better behaved during actual Rides, than on training rides. I think
I could use a Vosal at an actual ride, but then I get him out in
training and decide I must be crazy...
He probably looks around and see's lots of hyper horses, horses
galloping off without riders, big crowds of people, trucks everywhere,
vets and loudspeakers and clipboards and video cameras and thinks
"Oh. Racetrack. OK."
*** Another really really good reason to use a BLM horse in endurance ***
FEET! ...D*mnit! Without good feet, you don't have an endurance horse.
Magnum tore off another shoe and the farrier is patching him back together
yet again today. That's 4 weeks in a row. My farrier bill is higher than
my vet bill this month ...impossible. Thought the weather was clearing
and I was past this part of the year...
:) - kat ... and Magnum the "Bay Meadow's Special" in Palo Alto, CA
I miss Truman already... If you're still out there by some miracle,
bag the Windows '95 and get a Macintosh so we can have you back!