What to look for in an Endurance horse? PROSPECT W/ VIDEO!!!

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Many years ago I had an arabian. They always seem to have a built in reputation as endurance prospects. My arabian would be the first to start flagging after a long trail ride. (ten miles+). He had textbook perfect confirmation, great disposition and willing attitude. My aunt later took him to nationals in show jumping where he excelled. He turned out to be much better suited for ring work. In my lifetime the one horse I couldn't
tire out and never got the edge off was a big rawboned flat muscled appaloosa. He was an ex racetrack ponying horse with a huge scopey trot. The earlier post mentioning the trot as the most important
feature is true. I don't think bulging defined muscles makes a good endurance horse. Confirmation obviously is important but my horse was not perfect, he was a little long bodied and big headed but he moved in a grand style. You can train any horse into fitness but an endurance horse has to have an efficiency of movement covering a lot of space with little effort. A horse that isn't moving can only show you obvious confirmation flaws that will break him down. BTW, many years later the arabian died in his stall in early twenties after having a heart attack. He had the best of care and should of lived longer. My biggest worry about the gelding you are thinking about, is having doubts enough to question and wonder if he is a good prospect. If it is only the contrast between your higher strung mare that has you worried I think you should go with the gelding. Calm is a good thing.

One other thing. The US military back in the day they used horses did a strength and endurance test. The findings showed after 15.2 strength was not a proportional factor. That said
if you are a heavier rider a 16.1 horse is not necessarily stronger than a 15.1, but with smaller horses the weight of the rider verses the horse is an important factor. A 14.1 arabian that weighs 800lbs needs a very light rider to compete in endurance or will be outclassed by a larger horse carrying the same weight. Keep in mind in the racetrack they handicap horses with just a few pounds difference. The over 15.2 may just mean thinner longer legs or whatever statistically happens but is not a firm rule. I'm just trying to illustrate you can put a 200 lb rider on a well built 15.1 horse and performance won't necessarily drop than with a 16 hand horse but will drop dramatically with smaller horses. Not that a heavier rider will ever have an advantage but your horse may start flagging faster if its more of an effort to carry you. I weighed around 115 lbs on a 14.1 arab. He was a perfect horse for a hour or two trail ride. Every horse is different there are not rules that are set in stone, just generalities.

Hi Violet,

Thank you for responding. I agree that not all Arabians will make perfect endurance horses, there is just too many variables with how they are made up on the inside, metabolism etc, they are still individuals.

I agree with the huge trot, the more ground they can cover effortlessly, the easier of a time they will have once they are fit.

I have taken him out on a few 6 mile rides and he is very calm, but will go when asked and he enjoys it. I really enjoy riding him, it's SO different than the mare.

That is very good to know about the size factor study. The mare I ride is only 14 hands and myself and all the tack is about 200. I am doing regular 12 mile rides with her and she is just fine, but I fear when getting into the 25 milers she will be very worn out. I think this gelding is 15.2 so he fits me much better, and even though he is out of shape when going up hills I can feel his strength, like he has no problem hauling me up them, lol.