- Thread starter
- #11
Horsiezz
Ridin' The Range
Ok thanks,good idea. haha,I will look into it!michickenwrangler said:You would look into OAATS (don't know their website off the top of my head but just google OAATS). Some Michigan rides are also sanctioned OAATS, like Brighton Spring and Brighton Fall which is between Detroit and Lansing.Horsiezz said:Haha,thats funny about the draft!michickenwrangler said:Thank you,
Her dam is a Saddlebred. All National Show Horses must be a minimum of 25% Arabian and the rest must be Saddlebred. They are mostly bred to be high-steppin' saddleseat horses although quite a few do well in competitive trail. From our Great Lakes Distance Riding Assoc. about 5 NSHs compete. 2 have won National Top Tens.
I love comp (as we distance riders say) Izzie has such a low heart rate and big lungs we do very well. I just don't have the money to take her to the top.
Where do you live? There are about 8 or 9 competitive trail organizations and unfortunately, they all have different rules. UMECRA has an average pace of 6-8 mph and heart rate counts for a lot, metabolics don't count unless the vet wants to pull a horse for some reason. The Ohio org. OAATS (Ohio Arabian and All-breed Trail System) counts metabolics for a lot and pace is about 4-6 mph. NATRC-North American Trail Ride Conf. has a slower pace 5-7 mph but they also score your trail equitation and how your camp is set up (not a joke!).
The Upper Midwest has a large Arabian population so our parameters are more challenging than others that see a lot of gaited horses. Quarter Horses can certainly compete in the lower levels 12-35 mile distances. Foundation horses do a little better since they aren't as beefy as other QHs. A woman in our org. started out on some non-descript AQHA mare and we all told her "Oh, that horse can never finish, she'll croak on the trail, etc..." But she has over 3000 miles and many, many awards and now her 9 yr old daughter is competing on her, so QHs can do it but your horse will probably have the biggest butt out there
BTW, a woman who rides her Percheron in 15 mile rides always wears a t-shirt that says "Make your butt look small ... Ride a Draft"
But is there categorys for youth? (can't post my age,got in trouble...heehee)
I live in NE Ohio,dont want to say exact location on something public,but can message to you.
And thanks for the info on the NSH,I don't know much about the breed.
Now for this,can you ride Western?
And my older brother used to do endurance with his QH,and he beat all those arabians and other faster breeds on the shorter distance ones. Pretty surprising. They also entered him in those quarter mile races,and he won many times also. They sold him a long time ago,and when my mom and stepdad hooked up they found out my stepdads sister owned him. But unfortunately,a year ago,he died surprisingly of heart problems,AND colic. He wasn't THAT old either,about 20. And you know the check points,when the vet checked him he was always fine. :/ Pretty weird.
Yes, there are youth divisions. Riders under 16 need an adult sponsor (you should be able to find one on ride day) and must ride with a helmet. You'd have to look into OAATS rules to see if you're an adult at 16 or 18. You may also be close enough to Pennsylvania to do ECTRA rides (Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Assoc. again, just google ECTRA).
I'll start a new thread for distance riding so we can keep this one for showing off our horses
. I would love to have one someday. Grew up with them, but have yet to have the opportunity to own one for myself.
