Re: A picture is worth a thousand words

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

I've read the posts regarding selection of gait, etc. and I am coming to
realize that perhaps more of you out there are riding to qualify for the
Olympics or some such prestigious event. I would have guessed that the vast
majority of us, although some more competitive than others are riding to
finish strong and healthy and with progressively faster times as our
experience and horse dictate. I have talked with riders who claim that their
horses travel more easily at a canter and have heard claims that some riders
actually canter the entire ride with only a few deviations to other gaits. I
am gathering that more and more this is the optimum way of going in the
races in Dubai and Europe.
Howsoever......In the six years I have ridden endurance it has been my
experience that the majority of riders choose trot as the gait of preference
for much of the ride (as conditions warrant) and allow canter as a change of
pace or when presented with wonderful straight-aways. I am working towards
incorporating more canter into my conditioning rides with the purpose of
learning how I am helping my horse to relieve stress on her musculature by
varying the gaits. I have heard that it is the exceptional horse that can
sustain canter for very long distances over varying terrain with sometimes
extreme elevation gains and losses. This idea of allowing the horse to
choose the gait and or speed seems contrary to what I have experienced with
my horses. If that is the case, they would be galloping hell-bent for
leather at the start of every ride and would probably have to be pulled at
the first vet check. It is my responsibility as the rider and the manager of
our team to select the speed and gaits based upon what I may know of the
trail and conditions(and my horse). I suspect that the riders who would be
classified as the "upper level or highly successful competitively" do ride
as the team managers but the tone of much of these discussions would suggest
otherwise and I would hate for less experienced riders to get the idea that
they should allow their horses to dictate how the ride should be ridden. My
goodness, there is so much to learn and so much time in which to learn it.
That's what makes this sport so alluring to me.
Pat Super
> In a message dated 1/11/00 1:52:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> guest@endurance.net writes:
>
> << Studies show that horses travel at a gait and speed to reduce energy
> consumption and stress on the=
>  ir legs. Does this mean I should let the horse pick the gait if I pick
the
> speed we travel? >>
>
>
> In general, yes. In specific, you can anticipate changes in terrain better
> than the horse and also perceive the whole exercise protocol in advance,
> including the race terrain you'll be facing a few weeks hence. So, there
can
> be reasons to enforce a walk or a trot occasionally.
>
> ti
>
>
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