Using Arabian Horses for Endurance Riding
The Arabian horse is the best loved endurance horse. An Arabian has the ability to travel at moderate rates of speed for many hours without any physical damage to their bodies. Mentally, they love to perform and please their riders. The heart rate of Arabian horses will return to normal, 30 to 50 beats per minute, faster than most horses following exercise. This is important, because it allows the horse to keep on going like a well trained marathon runner.
The Arabian's confirmation is well built for endurance riding. Look for an Arabian horse that has deep, thick walls, making it perfect for the uneven ground encountered during endurance riding. The Arabian has large hooves helping to distribute the horse's weight better. The Arabian's heel is set high, which helps it to stay protected. Before and during an endurance event, the horse will have to pass veterinarian inspections. A lame horse will not pass the inspections.
The second most important factor that makes the Arabian horse perfect for endurance riding is the pastern. An Arabian horse's pastern is set at 45 degrees giving it less stress on the pastern. Less stress means a horse that can endure over the long miles, without coming up lame. Long pasterns become easily overstretched causing the horse to become lame.
The Arabian horse has a short back that is perfect for carrying a rider over long distances without tiring. The horse also has wide withers that are perfect for holding the saddle in place, especially going downhill when the saddle often slips. The Arabian horse also has a deep girth, which allows the heart to work at its maximum.
The Arabian horse moves in a straight line wasting very little energy. This allows the horse to go for a long period of time without tiring.
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