Re: Endurance & Racing (track)

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-08-28 17:31:23 EDT, rides2far@juno.com writes:

<< What about tendons?  (smart aleck says from back of class)  I cannot
 imagine this.  We had horses on the track.  With my dad's two we had shin
 bucking.  Add in the cousin's dozen or so and  a tendon or two went...one
 fractured coffin bone, fortunately no broken legs (but I saw a lot of
 them).  They weren't being pushed that horribly hard, they were just WAY
 too young.  Any time you ask horses for maximum effort, when many are
 just TURNING 2 years old, stuff goes.
  >>

I think you answered your own question at least partially, Angie.  When
started directly on the track, too young, without the foundation work done
FIRST, things DO go.  Our Arabs don't race until three, which helps a little.
The few trainers whom I have come to respect REALLY put a foundation on first,
before the horses ever go to the track.  As was pointed out, the speed
training has to be done, but the horses that are a bit older and have been
properly conditioned as endurance horses are ready to begin their speed
training and are less apt to have problems with it.

Heidi