Ridecamp: [RC] canter or trot

I always like to sit back and read the comments by everyone regarding a
subject, before I put my two cents in, so I am late weighing in on most
topics.  There are alot of pretty smart and experienced riders here, so
there is no use adding my 'me too' too often <g>

I have had some horses who like to trot, and some who canter effortlessly,
so we did that.

At the NC, my gelding was more comfortable cantering the gentle uphill
sections with the scattered ankle busting rocks, than trotting.  He seemed
more sure footed, and never hit a rock.  When asked to trot, he would get
stumbly.  Go figure. So we trotted or walked the down hills and cantered the
up.  He did great at that, though it is not a process I would recommend to a
newbie - a little unorthodox - but he and I have been together a long time
and I trust his judgement. He can go from a nice gentle canter into a long
gallop very easily.

My new mare, on the other hand, can't canter to save her soul.  She is stiff
and pops up to switch leads - throwing me off balance....crazy (we will be
working on that in an arena this winter).  BUT, she can trot like a dream -
long and low with her back round and her hind legs just a swinging.  I rode
a great mare for Wayne McMinn years ago named Rushcreek Karmen.  She
couldn't canter well either, but boy could she trot, and she won many 100s.

My estimation of these two horses, is that the mare will be a 100 mile
horse, while the gelding does well in 50s.  A 100 will require more of what
I call the "100 mile trot" with steady medium type speed, while the 50s will
require more periods of speed in areas where the footing allows you to move
out.

I can trot all day, but it is nice to canter to rest YOUR muscles also. I
think maybe the Europeans canter more because of a less varied terrain,
also.

laura



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