Fwd: RC: 5 year olds doing 100's

[Endure4fun@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/13/99 4:13:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time, DabneyEsq@cs.com 
writes:
Why do we feel we have to take a young horse and MAKE it do a 100 mile 
endurance ride?  I know it is because the ouwner/rider doesn't want to wait 
until bones and aditude are mature.  they want to get out with friends and 
compete and ?show? off their great horse.  How long is that young horse going 
to last?  It is the same as "mare in foal" Yes, horses of all ages have to 
run in the wild, the difference is, they don't do a 100 miles at one time, 
they don't have a rider on their back, or shoes on their feet, or all the 
other stuff we make our "partners" wear.  
There are so many horses out there that are for sell, if you feel you really 
need to ride.  Let's take care of our horses and give them a good life!!!
<< his question is aimed particularly at Heidi (and any other endurance vets 
 who may be lurking). Some well respected endurance folks say that taking a 
 5-year old on a 100 miler will damage him later in his career--even if he is 
 ready, and it is done slowly, with an experienced rider who knows how to 
pace 
 (in other words, assuming everything else is in place) and even if he seem 
 fine at the time.  
 H >>


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• To: Ridecamp@endurance.net
• Subject: RC: 5 year olds doing 100's
• From: DabneyEsq@cs.com
• Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:11:50 EDT
• Resent-Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:13:07 -0700 (PDT)
• Resent-From: ridecamp@endurance.net
• Resent-Message-ID: <"HcRlR1.0.nP1.1i3Pt"@starfish>
• Resent-Sender: ridecamp-request@endurance.net

This question is aimed particularly at Heidi (and any other endurance vets 
who may be lurking). Some well respected endurance folks say that taking a 
5-year old on a 100 miler will damage him later in his career--even if he is 
ready, and it is done slowly, with an experienced rider who knows how to pace 
(in other words, assuming everything else is in place) and even if he seem 
fine at the time.  
Have you come across any basis for this opinion (even anecdotal?)  Is this 
your opinion?  I think your response would be of interest to many on ridecamp.
Thanks!
Dabney Finch


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