tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post7017827291655017216..comments2023-10-08T09:37:18.894-04:00Comments on Endurance Granny: Quarter Horses in EnduranceJacke Reynoldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576351940350712538noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-45881632305073128292014-07-03T16:41:39.911-04:002014-07-03T16:41:39.911-04:00I see not stepping up in distance as a non-issue. ...I see not stepping up in distance as a non-issue. You find out what your "can" do, and if you like it...you do that. It is not a tragedy if someone cannot do a 50 or a 100 (unless of course that is their heart's desire). Somewhere in this process of mine I've learned a few things. I'm grateful for the 50's Journey has given me, but honestly don't see her as a 50 mile contender EVER. A completer yes, but she doesn't "like" that distance, so I doubt I'll do it much. She seemed much happier as an LD horse, so we will do some of those, and try to complete a 50 once a year for me. If the longer distance doesn't work out, LD it will be, when I can. <br /><br />My thoughts are to encourage people to try, as if you don't try failure is assured.All Who Wanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15811193190492037859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-65423661630710715862014-07-03T13:51:29.061-04:002014-07-03T13:51:29.061-04:00Oh, absolutely not all Arabs can do this sport! B...Oh, absolutely not all Arabs can do this sport! But the non-Arabs are a small minority in the sport, and I think they always will be. For the same reasons that every now and then there's an Arab who's a first-rate cutting horse, but will never dominate like the QHs do. Does that make the victories sweeter when they do come? For Sure! But when someone posts on the AERC page "can my Icelandic do endurance" and everyone points to the ONE Icelandic who can, that's not really being very honest with the person. And if one person sounds the least bit pessimistic they get flamed. I think the LDs were started up to get in the non-Arab people, which is a brilliant idea, knowing full well that many of them will never step up in distance.KThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922111866154597984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-53348718728497756572014-07-03T12:36:41.267-04:002014-07-03T12:36:41.267-04:00Oh and p.s. Phebes, 7/8 Arabian. Couldn't ha...Oh and p.s. Phebes, 7/8 Arabian. Couldn't handle an LD. It depends on the horse, the conditioning program, dedication, and talent.All Who Wanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15811193190492037859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-10341512710317153352014-07-03T12:34:23.279-04:002014-07-03T12:34:23.279-04:00I guess these people and many others who are succe...I guess these people and many others who are successively riding the horses in the examples given are enough proof to satisfy me that there is potential if you will ride to your horse's strengths, prepare adequately, and not set your horse up for a goal that is blatantly "unreachable." I had one of those horses that was lucky to make it through an LD, but you know what, there was something wrong with her (still is). <br /><br />Personally I am awed by folks that take a non-typical breed and just keep rockin' along. Maybe they won't do Tevis. But likely neither will you. Or me. What we can do is set our own personal goals, ride our horse to the best of its ability, and be happy at the end of the day, be it LD, Endurance, CTR. or CMO. I didn't "make up" this examples. The people involved in this instance kindly shared their story with me. I'm glad they did. All Who Wanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15811193190492037859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-65967447227910789702014-07-03T09:42:43.680-04:002014-07-03T09:42:43.680-04:00This comment is, of course, from someone who is co...This comment is, of course, from someone who is competing now with a Morgan (although my best horse was a 50/50 Morgan-Arab). Last week I got the Tevis magazine, with a full list of 2013 results. When you look at the list of finishers, there are only 2 horses that are not Arabs or part-Arabs, a TWH and an Appy. Turn the page and look at the list of non-finishers and it is loaded with non-Arabs. The Arabs that did not finish were mostly withdrawn late into the race. So we non-Arabs are still mostly "how interesting" when we show up. We typically have to work harder to finish an LD, even harder to get through a 50. To do a 100, you have to have a rare exceptional non-Arab. Sorry to be a Debby Downer, but I do not feel that a non-Arab has the same chance of being great in this sport as the typical backyard Arab would be. Now, getting thru a 25-miler, yes you have a good chance. But anyone aspiring to do a 100 miler, or who wants to be assured of a consistently good 50-mile placing, I would never suggest they go out and buy anything but an Arab... (BTW your photo of the App named Image shows a stunning frame, I would love to ride that horse!)KThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922111866154597984noreply@blogger.com