Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Canter vs Extended Trot

I believe that conformation can contribute to this.  I had a gelding that was a wee bit behind at the knee and he always wanted to canter and did not extend well in trot.  He could even canter at an easy nice rocking horse speed of a walk.   This type of work never seemed to bothered him and he did quite well in his 50's.

mary

windancer@xxxxxxxxx

----- Original Message -----

From: Typef

To: Jennifer Thompson

Cc: ridecamp

Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 11:53 AM

Subject: Re: [RC] Canter vs Extended Trot

I have often thought that a canter would be easier on the horse as their
weight gets spread out over 4 hoofs hitting the ground at a slightly
different time than a trot where the weight it split up between only 2
impacts at once. Would love more information on this. My daughter's horse
almost always refuses or fights an extended trot but can seemingly go
forever at a nice soft canter.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Thompson" <jlthompson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Canter vs Extended Trot


> Interesting this has bee brought up.  My mare, who suffered a ligament
> tear in her stifle last year, is now pretty much retired due to
> arthritis
> setting into the joint.
>
> The vet at the clinic told me that I could still ride her lightly, but
> try to only walk and canter.  He said cantering is easier on the joints
> than trotting.  I thought it was weird, but he insisted that was the
> case.
>
> Jennifer
>
> "Linda B. Merims" wrote:
>
> > Leonard.Liesens@xxxxxxxxxx said:
> >
> > >-   gaits : most don't canter - I do not understand
> > > why - many places were OK for canter especially in
> > > what you call the badlands (and event on dirt road) - I
> > > think this is less traumatic for the horse as long as
> > > the canter is gentle and slow - you guys like the
> > > extended trot (we don't do that anymore in Europe)
> >
> > Interesting.  Remember that Frank Baines (the great
> > 19th/early 20th century endurance rider) recommended
> > cantering as well.
> >
> > Has anybody--for example a certain rather obnoxious
> > self-taught equine physiologist who runs a group
> > on equine sports nutrition on Yahoo--ever done
> > carefully-controlled treadmill input/output tests
> > to see whether the canter is the more efficient gait
> > for any given horse and across the majority of
> > horses?
> >
> > Linda B. Merims
> > lbm@xxxxxxxxx
> > Massaachusetts, USA
> >
> > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> >  Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> >  Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
> >  Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
> >
> >  If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws
> >  Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)
> >
> > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>  Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
>  Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
>  Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
>
>  If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws
>  Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=