Horse #8 was a 15.2hh 2010 bay Arabian mare. She’s out of a breeder that does competitive Endurance herself and breeds for it. Her siblings have completed Tevis and other endurance rides, some as top 10 finishers. She was started at 5 and then sat for 6 months so we weren’t able to ride her. The trainer said she would get her back to riding if we want to come back in 2 weeks. We did get to watch her go around in the little arena the breeder has, but the lighting was terrible so I really have no good evidence.
I didn’t really even get any good pictures either so here’s a shot from the sale ad.
Her conformation is really nice and she has good feet. My only real concern is she’s pretty narrow in the chest/shoulder. I like a wide chest on horses. From my limited understanding and google researching it seems like Arabians develop really slowly and there’s a chance her chest/shoulders will expand over the next year or so. But I don’t know if I believe that.
She was very friendly; she actually came walking over to the gate from her pasture/paddock as we were approaching. And she had friends out there so is not like she was lonely, she just wanted to come in and be with people. My husband really liked her and wants to go back again when she can be ridden. I think she’s a very nice horse, but my husband doesn’t actually want to do Tevis. He wants to do 25 milers and maybe a 50. She’d honestly be wasted on us. She’s on the maybe list depending on a re-visit.
Horse #9 is her 1/2 brother, a 15.2hh 2010 bay Arabian gelding. I actually like his conformation a bit better. He’s still narrow in the front, but a bit stockier. I also like the chrome.
However, he hasn’t been started. And he was definitely a lot less handled all around. When he was being walked up the path to the arena we were walking quietly behind him and he was trying to bolt away. We had to wait down at the pasture for him to go up to the arena and then walk up. He was also a lot more frisky on the lunge.
Sorry again for the terrible video quality. I like his movement: nice big floaty trot. The footing in that arena was crap so they both took some weird steps.
My husband liked him too, but ultimately felt that he was too green for his price so we’re going to pass on him.
They both look nice, but dang, I really like that gelding. Understandable about green/price though.
I'm eagerly awaiting your riding trial on the mare!
Oooh I like them both! Too bad the gelding doesn't have more experience.
out of curiosity, what's the disadvantage of a narrower chest?
My question too!
Lung capacity is diminished and that's super important in an endurance horse. A narrow chested horse will also have a harder time holding a rider's weight, and given my husband is pretty tall and this is a shorter horse, it is important. Finally, they're likely to interfere in the front since the legs are close together.
I know. The gelding just appeals to me more.
if he were cheaper and totally unridden it'd be a different story. Although I'd still prefer to get a broke horse.
Their chest will develop with time and riding. Arabians really mature slowly and Ashke was very thin in the chest when I got him. Lots of trail miles later, he has a very nice chest and butt. Just food for thought, the mare is never going to know she's being wasted. She'll just know she's doing stuff with her people.
Good to know about the chest. That is what I read on the internet, but I take things I read on the internet with a grain of salt. I know she won't care, but I'm not sure I want to spend the amount this breeder wants. I don't think she's overpriced:she's a really well bred mare with the potential to be a competitive/winning endurance horse. But we're not going to do that so I don't know that I want to spend that much.
I know that some some breeds are slower and the chest is the last to widen. There's been a big difference in Carmen in just a year. I believe that she will be done by the time she's 7 (she's 6 this year). I really like the mare. I would say she's worth going back for a try.
Something about the gelding really grabs me. Must be his kind eye. 🙂
The mare looks like a nice option 🙂