I've been reading ride camp for a few weeks, and being very
computer-phobic, have been reluctant to join in, but here goes! My name
is Robbi Pruitt and for those of you who do not know me: I live in
Central Oregon, have been endurance riding since the late 70's, 11,000+
AERC miles, own, breed and train a CMK preservation group of 48 arabian
horses, and have been riding longer than I'll admit to.
Linda Flemmer asked about keeping weight on older horses in the winter.
My last two breeding stallions lived (and bred mares) to the ages of 31
and 33, and looked great. Two things that I feed the old guys are
Dynamite vitamins and rice bran. My vet says that the rice bran works
like an anabolic steroid without any of the detrimental side effects of
those. What I can tell you about rice bran is that it really stimulates
their appetite. I have yet to find a horse that doesn't like it. I top
dress their grain with 1/2 to 1 cup per day.
In the 80's Gary and I had a horse that was really hard to keep weight
on. Some of you may remember "Killer Calvin" our gutted snowbird.
Calvin was AERC 1985 National Heavyweight Champ. He carried 280# for
2040 miles that year. We solved his weight problem with alfalfa cubes.
(not pellets) I kept a trash can in his pen full of cubes all the time
and he held weight all season.
RE: the KC mare and riding pregnant mares in endurance. In early
pregnancy there does not seem to be much of a problem, however as the
mare gets further along she is clearing the toxins out of her system
for two. From what I have seen, it gets pretty common for mares to tie
up as they get into their second trimester. This can be a dangerous
situation for both mare and foal so be carefull if you plan to race a
mare in this condition. ( I wouldn't do it past about 3 months)
Finally a comment on gaited Arabians. The best known gaited arabians
that I know of are all decendants of the Kellogg- bred Rabiyas. He
sired the great NW sire and performance horse Rabiycar and of course
the immortal Abu Farwa as well. The winningest endurance horse of our
time, RT Muffin, is gaited and not surprizingly is a grandson of
Rabiycar on his sire line and his dam is a granddaughter of Abu Farwa.
Here in the NW there are many horses of this breeding and I've seen
several who display these natural gaits when only a few months old.
Tish - I remember Korana! Lost Wagon Train 199_____? A very beautifull
and talented mare! Try a chiropractor! Interesting that you were told
*Raffles horses were flighty. Within the CMK community the *Raffles
horses are prized for their intellegence, trainability and their
wonderful dispositions! The *Raffles bred horses that I own are among
my quietest horses.
Ramey - Where are those Death Valley Results??
On a very sad note, for those of you who have not heard, Mark Dees was
killed in an auto accident on Dec. 23. Mark will be sorely missed by
all who knew him and benefited from his association with AERC.
Robbi Pruitt
Canyonside Ranch Arabians