Experience the ENDURANCE of Foundation Breeding
What breed for endurance?
Oh boy - here's a loaded question.
I personally ride Appaloosas and Tennessee Walkers. The sport is dominated by Arabians and Arabian crosses. Does that mean that Arabians are the best for the sport? Probably, just like Warmbloods are best for dressage or eventing.
HOWEVER! That does not mean there aren't other breeds doing just as well as the Arabians in this sport. I know several people that have BC's (Best Condition in the top ten finishers) riding on Thoroughbreds and Appaloosas and Tennessee Walkers. It's all about the horse.
Here's what you look for in a horse - and remember, a horse cannot compete in this sport until they're 60 months old, so look for a horse...
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that has been working trail for awhile (for a foal, look for the one that is fearless and bold, going where no other foal will go)
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that has been competed successfully, and sanely (for a foal, look for parents that have competed and have high mileage)
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that was bred for this sport (if you're foal shopping, endurance breeders is where you want to shop because they KNOW what a good endurance prospect is and they're not going to steer you wrong as they want their foals in endurance homes)
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that likes to work hard (for a foal, look for the one that plays in field all day, long after the other foals have dropped for a nap, this one is still rocking-n-rolling)
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that suits YOU .. ride the horse on trail, ask if the seller will give you a week trial (for a foal, look for the one that attracts you and catches your attention)
What attracts me to a horse (and remember I'm only looking at Appaloosas and Tennessee Walkers) is the horse itself. One that has attitude is always going to attract me (chuckle) because I have attitude. I like the one that no-one else wants to ride because the horse is "too much" or "too strong" or "too smart". When someone contacts me that they can't wear their horse out and it's just too much for them anymore, that's the horse I want to go look at.
I will not even consider a horse that is spooky, or untrusting of his handler or isn't willing to go down the trail first. That horse will be no good at this sport. Many times you will be riding alone and you need to trust your horse and he needs to trust you.
Size is not important although the longer the legs, the better the traveling. I prefer them right around 15 hands. Easy on, easy off.
Color is not important although a white or grey horse will cool off better than a black or dark bay horse.
Sex is not important. I prefer to ride a stallion (one because I like to show off my stallion and two there is no bolder horse on trail than a stallion) but stallions are NOT for everyone. A stallion has to be well trained to handle crowds of horses at vet checks, being alone and getting passed (or passing) other horses on trail, and being on his best behavior in camp all night. Not many stallions are suited to do this work, mostly because of their testosterone, not because they can't do it. If you see a stallion (yellow ribbon in the tail) and he's doing well at this sport, that's the stallion you want to breed your distance mare to! He's going to make you some nice distance foals. Mares are wonderful, they will take care of you, but some of them can get witchy during heat cycles. This can be regulated with hormone therapy, but again - I say if the horse doesn't want to work correctly no matter where in her cycle she is, that's not a horse I'm going to consider. Geldings are marvelous, no hormones, attitude is always the same day to day, and they have no agenda.
Breed is not important. A good horse is a good horse. If you shop amongst the "stock" horse breeds (Appaloosa, Quarter Horse, Paint) look for a horse that is lean built with slow twitch muscling (thin lean stringy type muscling, not the heavy bulky muscling seen on many of the stock horses). Look for old bloodlines, those lines are the ones that used to perform, work all day, etc. If you're looking for gaited, look for the ones that perform their gait naturally out in pasture while playing and that have a good long stride. If you're looking for a racing horse (Arabian or Thoroughbred or Standardbred) look for one with good strong bone structure and nice round feet. Trust me on this one, they've been bred to sprint so their bones are light. A good distance horse needs good bone. A cannon bone with a circumference of 8" or more is best.
Time to start shopping. I highly recommend you find a mentor in your area (http://www.aerc.org/Education_Mentor.asp) and ask them to help you shop. They will be more than happy to evaluate the horse for you as suitable for this sport.
HAPPY TRAILS!
Instructor/Manager: Dodie Sable
Located in New Smithville PA at 37 Fenstermacher Road, 3 miles north of Kutztown University
Call us at 610.756.3836 or email us at dodie@newpromisefarms.com