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[RC] Cantering - Bruce Weary DCI'm sure some other senior riders are bound to chime in on this question about cantering, but here are my thoughts. In my experience, the staple gait for endurance riding is the trot. Cantering, except perhaps among the very well prepared and experienced front runners, is typically done very sparingly. Usually for short stretches to loosen the horse up or make up a bit of lost time. IMO, extensive cantering should not be chosen simply because it is more comfortable for the rider. Trotting is a symmetrical gait and thereby allows for more uniform muscle use in the horse, whereas cantering is an asymmetrical gait and there is a point in every stride where the horses weight is borne (if only for an instant) on one foot. To canter for the majority of even an LD ride, especially with a relatively inexperienced horse and rider, is a potential opportunity for injury through tendon/ligament overstrain. Presuming my experience is not markedly different from most experienced, moderate paced riders out there, I'll wager that I don't typically canter more than a mile or two total over the course of a 50. Anyone out there having a consistently different experience? Dr Q=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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