Re: RC: mare in foal

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/14/99 4:12:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Endure4fun@aol.com writes:

<<  If you want to breed your mare, be a 
 considerate owner and let her have the time off, or get another horse to 
 ride.  Don't be so selfish!  >>

Pregnant women are much healthier if they continue the activities they are 
used to.  The same is true for mares.  I would not START a pregnant mare on a 
new career in endurance, but neither would I disrupt her life by abruptly 
making her a pasture ornament if she were fit and used to competing.  That 
change is stressful, too.  It is all a matter of HOW they compete.  One of 
the nice things about endurance is that you can ride to ANY goal--and with a 
pregnant mare you can be more competitive in the earlier stages and just jog 
through the miles for completions as she gets further along.  The one 
pregnant mare that I campaigned was a very independent old biddy who ran 
rides HER way, and when she got a bit heavier toward the end of the season, 
she altered her style to suit herself.  No sweat.  And when she came home 
from her last ride at the end of the season and took off across the pasture 
in a huge park trot, head high and tail flagged, that was all the affirmation 
that I needed that it had been right for her to campaign.

Heidi


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