>I'm interested in corelating information on the relation between the age=
at
>which an endurance horse starts serious conditioning and/or racing and =
the
>number of miles and years that horse stays sound enough for continued
>competition. If you have any experience with an endurance horse or know =
of
>some anecdotal information which may be helpful, I would love to hear =
from
>you and would like to know 1. Some identification of the horse - name,
>number, whatever; 2. The age at which he began his first 50 mile ride =
3.
> The approximate number of years and and the number of miles per year =
he
>competed (just your best guess is fine) 4. The age at which he retired =
(or
>still racing)
>and 5. The general reason for retirement (chronic lameness, illness, =
money,
>whatever).
Kahlil Khai is 23 years old, retired, sound and fit, with 11,475 miles
completed over seventeen consecutive years. He has 39 senior first
place finishes (I don't know how many weight division firsts) and 49
Best Condition awards. The greatest number of miles he completed in one
calendar year was just over 2,000.
Kahlil began conditioning and 25 mile rides at age four.
He began 50 mile rides at age five.
He began 100 mile rides at age six, and completed over 30 of them.
I didn't make a specific decision to retire him -- I have not been
competing (for a number of reasons) for the last couple of years, so his
retirement came about by default. I still ride him (not in competition)
and he acts like a much younger horse. He is an Arabian gelding, 14.2
hands high and about 850 pounds.
--=20
Joe Long
jflong@worldnet.att.net
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jlong/home.shtml