Re: Competitive Gaits

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

On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 21:09:49 -0400, Truman Prevatt
<truman.prevatt@netsrq.com> wrote:

>Mike,
>
>If Joe Long doesn't see this and answer it send it to him
>directly.  As for me I pick the speed and let the horse pick the gait.

I'd planned to pass on this one as I expected others to answer it.
But I fully agree with you -- the rider chooses the speed and the
horse chooses the gait he's most comfortable at at that speed.  It
works for me.  The exception is that I may call for a trot if we're
coming into ground that I think is too rough for a safe canter.  Other
than that, I'm not aware of any penalty to the joints by cantering
instead of trotting.

>Mike Sofen wrote:

>> Great reply, Susan.  Followup question:

>> In a horse who has an efficient canter and naturally breaks into it sooner
>> than the horses we ride with that have fast trots, are there other downsides
>> to doing more miles at the canter than at the trot?  Muscles, joints, etc?
>> Someone mentioned that the horses insides " jiggle a particular way at the
>> canter" (to use technical jargon).
>> 
>> Nick will canter for miles (on the flat) at 12-15 mph at a heart rate of
>> 105.  To do a 10 mile an hour trot, he'll be at 135-145.  I have been
>> training him to do a faster trot, but it seems counter-intuitive to work at
>> a gait that requires a higher heart rate.  He's a 14.3 HH polish arab.
>> 
>> Mike Sofen
>> Seattle, WA

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@mti.net
http://www.mti.net     Business
http://www.rnbw.com    Personal