Ridecamp: [RC] FW: [RC] Canter vs extended trot

For the sake of my knees, someone please talk me into cantering my mare
more...

I am extremely interested in long-timers input on this subject since I'm a
newbie on a young horse and I'm "trotter". I was taught that the trot is the
safest and most balanced gait since two feet hit the ground together. I was
also taught that this minimizes concussion to feet and joints since the
impact is divided between two legs instead of one. At two stages of the
canter, all of the weight is on one leg. Someone explain to me how that is
less than all the weight divided between two legs.

You will not find me disputing the idea that the canter is more AEROBICALLY
efficient and energy saving. The horse's body expands and folds like an
accordian making breathing almost effortless. But better for the bones,
joints and muscles? I need more than just "say so" to believe that one.

I've noticed that the horses that do well at the trot have a long forearm
and a short cannon. Note: stock type horses (QH's and such) are generally
not conformed like this.

My mare is quite leggy and has a long forearm. She also has a nice ground
covering working trot and then she has an "afterburner" turbo trot that just
eats ground. She can keep both going for a good long time. I don't know what
a true extended trot is, but if it were a true extended trot, I don't think
she'd do it willingly nor for such a long time. I only switch to a canter to
allow her to stretch her back and use different muscle groups. My mare also
has a fast walk to die for, again because of the long forearm and because of
her hind leg angulation and hip assembly. I've never had a problem meeting
pulse parameters, I don't use a HRM and fatigue isn't an issue for the 25's,
30's and two-day 50's I've been doing. I've been doing between a 5 mph and 7
mph pace. I am not nearly as interested in Top Tenning as I am with being
able to do mile after mile and completion after completion on this mare.

I don't let my mare canter unless she shows me that she will pick up both
leads equally or else she gets muscle sore on one hind or the other. For the
same reason, I don't let her canter uphill. I've found that letting her
canter uphill leads to muscle strain and fatigue. All that leg is hard for
her to keep track of at a canter. Trotting and walking gets us to the vet
checks without a worry.

And the final reason I tend to trot everywhere I go is because I can stick
to my mare at the trot even if she does zig zag all over God's green earth.
For some reason, I can't stick to those unexpected roll-backs at a canter.
>g< I can't condition at a canter, so common sense tells me not do a ride at a
canter.

But, again, I'd love for someone to talk me into doing more cantering... I
hope to do so someday after I have my mare built up and after she learns to
do flying changes and use both leads equally.

Deanna




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<snips of a bunch of posts>
Mary said:
Very good point.? I also like to keep a close eye on my HRM which can give
you a good indication as to a particular horses gait preference....

My hero Jeannie said:
I feel that an extended trot can be hard on a horse but I
let Maggie choose her gait (am not referring to Maggie Mieske but my mare).
So my Maggie will do both.  I feel that the horse knows what gait it is
comfortable in so that is why I let my mare choose.

Pat Super said:
One of my horses seems to use himself better at the canter than my others
and for him, when footing and grade allow, the canter would be our gait of
choice. My main endurance horse is most efficient at her "all day trot" and
when necessary, she can turn on the afterburners and move out nicely at the
trot. With her, this would be our gait of choice.
I would also like to point out that the choice of words "extended trot" with
reference to endurance, throws up red flags for me. The true extended trot
is especially hard on the legs and should not be encouraged for extended
periods of time. This is one sure way to injure your horse.



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