Ridecamp: [RC] trot vs canter

I've noticed Ash, my endurance newbie often changes leads
while cantering. He does this on his own so I'm assuming
it's to switch muscle groups. He never seems stiff or sore
the next day and there seems to be no heat or swelling in
any legs. My older horse would however get sore from
constant trotting and he would interfere with too much
trotting. Don't get me wrong, I don't let him choose many
things, but since he's carrying me and I'm asking him to
travel at higher speeds than he would normally choose, then
I feel the least I can do is let him choose the gait that
is most comfortable. As long as I am not seeing any
negative repurcussions that is. For example I don't let him
run downhill and he doesn't really ask to except in the
company of a more rowdy horse and he's just copying what
the "herd" is doing. Riding alone gives me a better idea
what gaits are most comfortable for him, as there is an
absence of the competitiveness that comes from riding with
more than one horse. That way when we get to a ride the
hope is that I will know him well enough to regulate speed
and gaits when adrenaline wants to take over. My .02
worth!! And we still work on trotting some, it's an
important gait to utilize but for this horse, the more in
shape he gets, the more cantering he asks to do. And
really, it's a very relaxed, head carried fairly low, I'll
have to time us on my new GPS and see how fast it is, doubt
its very energy expending the way he does it! A HM would be
interesting too, hmmmm. Christmas is just a ways away!!! :)

heidi



--- Deanna German <finishis2win@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Amanda wrote:
> For what it's worth, if given his head while going up a
> steep
> hill, my gelding will almost always canter rather then
> walk,
> rack, pace or trot, so I assume that of all the gaits he
> can
> choose from, cantering is easiest, at least up hill.
> 
> ---------------------------
> 
> Yes, my mare will do this too... and after only 15 - 25
> miles she'll end up
> with tight, sore hamstrings, usually more on the right
> hind (left canter
> lead, which she favors), and I run the ragged edge of
> getting pulled. *I*
> know what's wrong and that I can work her out of it, but
> a vet can only
> judge what he or she sees. And anyway, in the long term,
> she needs to learn
> to use her body better and she isn't going to get that
> from running up
> hills. My mare doesn't get tight or muscle sore if I
> insist that she trot or
> walk up. After only allowing her to trot or walk up all
> season this year, I
> can really see the improvement in her.
> 
> Sometimes you have to save them from themselves and make
> them do something
> that's not their first choice.
> 
> Deanna
> 
> 
>
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=====
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 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
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