Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Linda said:

> **If** a horse is a to-die-for #10 canterer and
> demonstrates he prefers it, are there specific tendon,
> bone, joint, etc. issues to watch for that would be
> different from training using the trot as the primary gait.
One of the biggest differences between the trot and the canter is that
there are phases of the stride in the canter where the entire weight of
the horse is being born by a single leg (the outside hind and the inside
fore if the horse is on "the correct" lead).  The fact that the entire
weight of the horse is on the outside hind at the start of the stride is
of very little (but not none) consequence, because the other diagonal
legs come down before the outside hind breaks over.  However, the entire
weight of the horse is on the leading fore during breakover, which
SERIOUSLY hyperflexes the joint and puts a lot of stress on the flexor
tendons.  The less you extend the horses gait, the less impact this has,
the less "on the forehand" the horse, the less impact this has, and the
more you practice it by working up to it slowly and building the
flexibility of the flexor tendons, the less impact this has.

Additionally, since the canter is a "one sided" gait (i.e. there is more
stress on the horse at the canter if the horse is counter cantering than
if it is on the inside lead), it is important to teach the horse how to
use both leads, and it is very helpful if you have also taught the horse
to change leads when asked.  And even if you are going down a long
straight path, it is important to change leads occasionally just to give
one side a "rest."

kat
Orange County, Calif.




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