One gauge for athleticism that is often over looked is the ability to change directions while having minimal contact with the ground. I think this is especially important for a horse ridden through heavy brush at night.
Even with the best of despooking training we cannot expect a horse to be oblivious to terrifying noise that erupts from the cutover timber only a few feet away. The best that I expect from the horse is to jump hard if he must but then plant his feet and move in the direction that I indicate at the speed that I indicate.
An explosion coupled with a radical change in direction when on unstable footing will put the less athletic horse on the ground--perhaps with the rider under him. Spanish Colonial horses tend to have a great deal of over stride and can be counted on to have a foot not only on the ground but also well positioned for stability and support.
Here is Red Feather on an ordinary inside turn in the round pen. He handles his feet much better than most modern horses.
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I still think Red Feather's true name should be, " Oh yeah, Well you should see the other guy!" Young Atilla was most impressed when I explained to him that the whit is his coat came from scars. He stepped up to pet Red Feather though.
In watching him in the round pen I think my earlier description was apt. A flyweight boxer that happened to be Seabiscuit's kid brother. Invariably, all these horses have that trait..Baton Rouge does, Manteo, Tradewinds..Wanchese..tiny little Rico is going to be like riding a ballerina doing Strauss waltzes...but none of them can hold a candle to Nick.
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