ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Resonant riding

[endurance] Resonant riding

Lewis Hollander (lewis@bendnet.com)
Wed, 8 May 1996 21:44:32 -0700

There has been a lot of really interesting comments on the Resonant
riding article on my WEB page (http://www.endurance.net/hollander). I would
like to answer some of the questions raised. We had always assumed that a
trot was the most efficient gait, NOT SO. At each gait, walk, trot, canter,
there is a speed you should ride at. 3mi/hr at the walk, 7.5mi/hr at the
trot and above 12 mi/hr at the canter. At any other speed you are
inefficient. This resonant speed chages from horse to horse depending on
conformation, rider and saddle weight and so forth. But it is important to
know that there is only one speed for your horse at each gait. This is a new
idea and takes a little getting used to. If you trot too fast you are using
10 to 15% more energy than if you switched to the canter. This may not be
too important in shorter races where the horses reserves are not challenged,
but in longer faster races, resonant riding can make a big difference in
performance. I discuss this in detail in my book "Endurance Riding From
Beginning to Winning" (Availble from Green Mansions Inc. P O Box 100,
Redmond, OR 97756 $17.45 includes shipping) at pages 219 to 225.
Next trip out try it and you will quickly note the speed the horse
travels most efficiently at. Use your heart rate monitor. This is also true
and well documented for humans. But we only have two gaits, walk and run.
When you get the hang of resonant riding you will become ONE with your
horse, it is a great feeling.

Ride in Resonance be ONE with your horse.

Lew Hollander