(no subject)

K S Swigart (katswig@deltanet.com)
Thu, 19 Dec 1996 20:42:11 -0800 (PST)

I fail to see what any possible benefits of this gait might be, but then I
am not one of those endurance riders who is coldly insistent that my
horses must trot (nno matter how fast they are going). I find the canter
to be a wonderful, relaxing (for both horse and rider), ground covering
gait and use it frequently. I also am of the opinion that there is little
benefit gained by travelling for long periods of time at any extended
gait. As far as I am concerned, endurance horses need to have good,
balanced, working gaits (with collection and extension used for breif
periods in negotiating terrain where they are suitable).

kat
Orange County, Calif.

p.s. On of the things I LIKE about the canter over the trot is the
breathing thing, as the horse is "double using" its muscles by using them
for propulsion and for respiration as well. I've always considered this
one of the benefits of the canter over the trot.

-------------
I have to agree here with this-seems the best thing to do is
mix up the gaits depending on the terrain and heart rate, amoung
other things.

I think Truman summed it up perfectly once-having a multi-gaited
horse, when he said he picks the SPEED, and he allows the horse to
pick the gait. Or was the word used "negotiate", Truman? <G>

Karen

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