Re: Hill Climbing/youngsters

["Jeff & Bambi Forbes" <forbes@mountainmax.net>]

Hi Penni,

You might want to go to Dr. Deb Bennett's discussion on this on the Equine
Studies Instutite  web site.  I think you'll find it interesting:

http://www.equinestudies.org/conformation.htm

It starts about 3/4 of the way down the page in answer to conformation
questions about the horse "Ranger".  The first "growth" paragraph starts
out:

"Right now though I want to return to the issue of maturity and deal with
that concept thoroughly. Ranger is not mature, as I said, as a 2 1/2 year
old. This is NOT because Ranger is a "slow-maturing" individual or because
he comes from a "slow maturing" breed. There is no such thing. Let me
repeat that: no horse on earth, of any breed, at any time, is or has ever
been mature before the age of six (plus or minus six months). This
information comes, I know, as a shock to many people who think starting
their colt or filly under saddle at age two is what they ought to be doing.
This begs discussion of (1) what I mean by "mature" and (2) what I mean by
"starting." (Dr. Deb Bennett)

It goes on and is a VERY INTERESTING discussion on growth plates.

I too, would like to hear about hills and walking to strengthen, or letting
them run... 

Bambi



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