Nancy listed this as one of the checklist traits for an endurance horse:
>>> A horse that loves to move forward. A horse that loves his work. A horse that takes joy in the feel of his body exercising. And, she noted about Flekka's race times: >>> When you have her record up, then click on the name of the ride and then on the 25 mile division. She was nowhere near last and had pretty respectable times. She had to be moving right along at least part of the time. The first place horse came in with a time so fast on the Norco ride that I suspect it might have been relatively flat, but you still have to move over 25 miles of trail, flat or not. A friend of mine who knows Flekka just supplied the phrase that I'd been searching for about Flekka's endurance potential. In her words, Flekka just doesn't "have the heart" for it. She doesn't love to go fast - not by a long shot. I think she'd be perfectly happy to walk along the trails for the rest of her life when she's not lazing in the pasture with her buddies. She has good conformation for long-term soundness. She has a good range of gaits for any pleasure activity - naturally gaited, but a little to the diagonal side. She tends to default to either running walk or foxtrot and she can canter. She's a lovely horse, but she is what she is. She's not an Arab, and I'm not complaining. Flekka is as quiet and laid back as any horse you'll find. She's sweet as a lamb, not spooky, gentle, friendly... But it's pretty obvious that she would prefer to spend the rest of her life plodding along in a "stop and smell the roses" manner. The first time I rode her out of the ring, I was surprised - her head went up, she tensed and she took off. Key word in that last sentence: TENSE. Flekka is NOT a tense horse, not in the slightest, but it was like she thought, oh trail...I HAVE to hurry! It wasn't what I'd call a bolt. I would call it "rushing." She was doing what she thought she was supposed to do, but she just wasn't into it. I think she has a strong sense of "duty". A lot of horses do.... Of all the horses I've ever had, Flekka and Trausti are probably the two of the most "laid back". Some might even call them "lazy." Nothing wrong with that - they are great horses for many people. I'd also consider them extremely safe and dependable horses. Ironically, they are the two who were considered to be "endurance prospects". Go figure. Flekka COULD finish a race, but why push a laid-back horse like her do something she doesn't like? Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1263 - Release Date: 2/6/2008 8:14 PM
