Ridecamp: Re: [RC] : Conditoning .. all hills

> I kept imagining that to my horse trotting was like me jogging, and he'd
> need to stop and walk.  In fact, horse's legs are more spring loaded due
> to the give in the pastern. It's more comparable to jogging on a
> trampoline.  My horse never seemed to appreciate the walk breaks, (unless
> it was really late in the ride) so I quit inforcing them unless he seemed
> interested.

There's also a reflex that triggers the next stride, so neurologically, the
rythm can just keep going and going....  It takes a conscious effort to stop
that, unless there is some other mitigating factor (fatigue, etc.) and a
conscious effort to start it up again.  So once they're trotting in a nice,
comfortable working trot, it is often easier for them to just maintain it.

Heidi


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