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snip
>Tina
I think I'll join in this and maybe divert some of the flames from Tina.
You fokes know my e mail. I think Tina is correct. Consider human's for
a second. A average to good athletic person can train to do a marathon or
even super marathon within reasonable finical resources. But to become an
accomplished gymnast, figure skater, ballet dancer requires a lot of money
and a lot of time. Why is this? The preperation for distance running is
very simple compaired to these other disciplines and the body was built to
walk and run so running is in natural harmony with the biomechanical
structure of the body.
The same is true for horses. The horse was built to range over great
distances, sometimes covering ground a a failry fast clip. What we ask the
horse to do is a refinement of its natural abilities and natural movements.
Most horses can do this well, expecially Arabs. So the cost of the horse
becomes a factor of supply and demand. There are a lot of capable horses
out there and no specialized training is required. I know Arabian breeders
don't like to here this but you don't need to pay $10,000 for a 4 year old
geliding to do endurance. There are two many "Cash and Rio" stories out
there. Also with the Arabian racing indurstry culling horses, there is a
large natural supply of potential horses. So why would anyone need to pay
$10,000 for a green four year old when there are 100's of five and six year
old horses off the track for $1000?
Truman
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Another thing to add to Trumans comments, is I have found from
reading for sale ads here and in EN, that you can pay anywhere from
$2,000 to $5,000, and get what sounds like a GREAT, proven,
experienced and relatively young endurance horse. Some you see in
the ads have top tenned, some have done ROC. When you compare this
for some other breeds where you might spend $3,000 to $4,000 for
an UNBROKE or green or unproven horse, I think the cost for a
capable endurance horse is very, very reasonable! If I had $3,000
and wanted an experienced endurance horse, I could find one fairly
easily. And, many of these horses have far more trail experience
than you will find elsewhere!
On the other hand, I come from the side of owning 3 equines that
cost me a total of $1,000-the pony 6 years sound, the Arab 4 years
sound and the big mare 2 years sound, as long as I have owned them.
There will ALWAYS exist nicely conformed animals with potential that
owners cannot manage or want to deal with anymore!
Karen
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
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