Re: Arab or TWH

["Susan Swope" <nagzarus@prodigy.net>]

Susan Swope-Attardi
AERC Southeast Region
Kentucky
-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Swope <nagzarus@prodigy.net>
To: Lif Strand <fasterhorses@gilanet.com>; Thiessej@aol.com
<Thiessej@aol.com>; AERC <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Tuesday, April 13, 1999 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: Arab or TWH


>I must burst Paul's bubble..... General Lee was mounted on a Saddlebred by
>the name of "Traveller."  Saddlebred's have a rich history in the early
>foundation of this country.  The America Horse, as the early stock was
>called, was first mentioned in government correspondence in 1776.  During
>the Revolutionary War, members of the breed, were the favored mount for the
>American Cavalry.  Also true of the War of 1812 and by the Mexican war of
>1846 the breed was firmly established and entire companies were mounted on
>them.  They were chosen for their temperament, substance and yes,
endurance.
>
>As to the Civil War, in addition to General's Lee's American Saddlebred
>"Traveller," the following General's were mounted on the following
>Saddlebred's:
>
>Grant on "Cincinnati", Sherman on "Lexington" and Stonewall Jackson on
>"Little Sorrell."  The confederate commands of Generals John Hunt Morgan
and
>Nathan Bedford Forrest were also mounted on Saddlebreds.  The feats of
>endurance they asked of those particular horses would make us all cringe.
>During the Spanish-American war of 1898, General John B. Castleman, who had
>been a military officer under Morgan's command in the Civil War, naturally
>rode an American Saddlebred.  In 1891 he had become the founder and first
>president of the breed registry, now known as the American Saddlebred Horse
>Association and won the five-gaited grand championship in Chicago on a mare
>called "Emily" in 1893.  He also founded the famous "Louisville" horse show
>now referred to as The World's Championship Horse Show.
>
>I have both a Saddlebred and an Arabian I've done rides successfully on
>both.  I suppose the Arabian breed does have the better track record but
>perhaps that is because of the misconception by both owners and breeders of
>the modern Saddlebred that they belong in the show ring, and no where else.
>There is no doubt in my mind that there are Saddlebred individuals who will
>excel in the sport of endurance, and perhaps better than any other
>"non-Arabian" breed.  Saddlebred enthusiasts of today, at least in this
part
>of the country, tend to be purists who don't have a clue that their little
>breed can do anything outside of the show ring.  Here in Kentucky, the
heart
>of the American Saddlebred and the state in which the breed was developed,
>Saddlebred people look at folks like Jerrald and I, who venture out into
>unknown territory with "their" breed, with mixed emotions and downright
>suspicion!  They haven't a clue as to whether to be proud of us or shun us!
>How dare we take these "Peacock's of the Show Ring" and have them climb
>mountains and cross streams!!!!!!!
>
>Anyway, just thought I'd clear up any misconceptions as to the Saddlebred's
>history as a war horse.
>
>Susan Swope-Attardi
>AERC Southeast Region
>Kentucky
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Lif Strand <fasterhorses@gilanet.com>
>To: Thiessej@aol.com <Thiessej@aol.com>; AERC <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Date: Tuesday, April 13, 1999 8:32 AM
>Subject: RC: Arab or TWH
>
>
>>Jerald - as I said in my last post, I have owned a TWH.  She was a
>>pleasure to ride.  I have ridden Saddlebred/Arab crosses, some long
>>distance (not racing).  I am not judging all gaited horses by just one
>>or two, nor do I base my "prejudice" towards using Arabians for
>>endurance on the performance of one or two gaited horses.  I base it on
>>statistics.  Lots of people have used other breeds for endurance -
>>Arabians weren't the breed used at the start of the sport.  Over the
>>years, the other breeds have regularly not done as well as Arabians and
>>it seems kind of unrealistic to imagine that some sort of "breed
>>prejudice" is why this is.  Either other breeds have better vet check
>>indicators and can do the miles or not.  Remember, an endurance RACE is
>>not the same as going a long distance on a horse.  I find it very hard
>>to believe that endurance riders are choosing to ride Arabians instead
>>of gaited horses if they could be doing better on gaited horses more
>>regularly than on Arabians!  As I said above, I don't judge a breed of
>>horse by what an individual can accomplish.  I judge the BREED by what
>>many individuals do.
>>
>>You wrote:  "They [Arabians] need a lot more slow conditioning to build
>>up their legs to do a 50 mile ride than a gaited breed. "  I would be
>>grateful if you could let me know what your source for that information
>>is.
>>
>>Paul reminds me that Robert E Lee rode an Arabian.
>>
>>
>>--
>>                                    ____________
>>Lif & Paul Strand   STRAND ENTERPRISES   http://www.fasterhorses.com
>>          Arabian Horses (looking for new homes!)
>>         Nutrition for People & Critters * WebArt
>>                     Quemado, NM  USA
>>
>>
>>
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>


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