First when she is trotting in this "park trot" what is her heart rate.
The heart rate is a better gauge of "wasted energy" than the opinions
of all the bystanders in the world. How does the heart rate at this
gait compare to the heart rate of a slower trot and of an easy canter?
She may be a horse that needs to canter rather than do a fast trot.
She may not be.
If the "too much action" manifest itself as "slamming her front feet
down" then lameness may be a problem in the long run. If it manifest
itself as a little more knee action but not slamming her feet down then
probably won't be any issues. I sure would not do anything artifical to
change her natural way of going, e.g. shoeing. The only way to know is
start up with some rides and see how she does. If she does well at
whatever gait she chooses, then don't question success.
Most people will tell you that the "daisey clipper" is a much better
endurance horse. Take a daisey clipper to deep sand, e.g. FL or to mud
they are the first to get pulled since they have to fight the
conditions in stead of getting up out of it.
Give her a try and see how it goes. If she's not slamming her feet down
putting undue stress on her legs I would not worry much about it.
What to do...if anything...about a horse that has "too much
action?"
My Morgan mare comes from some show lines and has a lot of
action..especially at her fast trot (which is 11 mph). She's 15.1. and
7 years old, 900 pounds.
She's never been lame....but has yet to do a 50. I hear a lot of
"wow, park horse" or "parade horse" and "not good for
endurance...wasted energy" when I ride her. Her metabolics are
great...and she is built narrow and streamlined.
How does "too much action" manifest itself in the long run? We
are up to 20 mile training rides but she still high steps at the
trot. Any training suggestions to get her? Shoeing maybe? She even
does it barefoot. The show people would probably love this horse but I
think showing is boring.
BTW this mare also does a stepping pace and rack but that is at
slower speeds...we can do a lateral shuffle for miles at about 6 mph.
