Re: wide gait in hind end

["Joe Long" <jlong@mti.net>]

On Wed, 21 Jan 1998 22:45:46 EST, Bierstedt <Bierstedt@aol.com> wrote:

>The discussion of gaits got me thinking of a recently published book called
>"The Nature of Horses," by Stephen Budiansky. In a section on the mechanics of
>movement, the author says, "a medium trot is more energy efficient than a fast
>walk, and a medium canter is more energy efficient than a fast trot." He says
>that each gait has an optimal speed, which horses naturally tend to favor.
>"When traveling a these optimal speeds, the energy required to move a given
>distance is the same whether at the walk, trot, or gallop."

>In a way this makes sense, and yet, the implication is that a canter (at the
>optimal speed) could be an energy efficient gait. But surely the trot is the
>gait of choice for endurance? In reality, is the trot more energy efficient
>than the canter, at least for distances? Is it preferred because it can be
>sustained for a longer period of time? 

Budiansky is right.  The most efficient gait depends on the speed you
are travelling.  Above a certain speed a canter uses less energy than
a trot.  This speed is different for different horses.  On a flat
trail I have cantered for 49 out of 50 miles.

You must also consider energy use per mile vs. energy use per minute
(or per hour).  A gait that takes the energy use above a horse's
anaerobic threshold will tire him quickly.  But the above is a reason
why both the horse and rider who finish at the end are often more
tired than those who finished up front.  Walking reduces the energy
use per hour, but not the energy use per mile.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@mti.net
Business Page  http://www.mti.net
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