I agree with all
that, but still think “it depends” on many factors, including how
fast the horse is traveling to keep up. You’re right in that I don’t
go very fast on my conditioning rides, even when Sonny is having to canter to
keep up as he doesn’t go much faster at the canter to keep up with the
big guys, it’s just more comfortable for him to canter than to “big
trot” since he is just a little horse. I sure wouldn’t “race”
on my conditioning rides (since I don’t race ever), but I also know that
many horses prefer the easy canter rather than extending their trot. IMO, a 6MPH
trot is pretty slow unless it becomes the average MPH including stops, over the
duration of a 15-25 mile ride. Most of my horses walk at 4.5MPH, 5 if we have some
race walkers with us. If my horse
wanted to canter when pushed faster than 6MPH, I’d likely go ahead and
let them, dependent on how long they’d been under saddle, how much base, ease
of rating, etc, etc. I wouldn’t give up trying to get them to trot faster
though, just to use different muscle groups. Before Sonny learned to canter under
saddle, he’d easily trot at about 10+MPH, now he’ll consistently break
into the canter at about 8MPH. I can’t remember about Fellow, did he have
much saddle time before you got him?
Kathy
Kathy, this horse is only 5. Cantering in itself is not a
big deal, in fact I like to mix it up on long rides. What I am concerned with
this horse is him "cantering to keep up" at age 5. You have to
remember the first few times I took Fellow out with you the first year I had
him?? He was 6 (or close to it-can't remember when we first rode together, but
I bought him when he was 5.5), and we talked about not going too fast..? You
were great about it. I carefully chose those I would ride with that year. I wouldn't
even ride with my then boyfriend..!
I don't think you ride that fast on training rides at all. But if these folks
are trotting faster than this 5 yr old can trot, causing him to break into a
canter, then IMO, she needs to find someone else to ride with for a few more
months at least.
When we let a horse's herd instinct overrule what is good for him physically,
we put that horse in danger.
