Every horse can be taught to walk faster than you
think. It is one of the most important qualities of a good riding
horse. Some have it naturally, others need to learn.
On the other hand, if you are riding a tired horse,
an easy jog is more efficient, covers more groumnd with less effort. (it's
the rebound effect of the two beat trot)
Subject: RE: [RC] Ways To Know You Are Ready for 100
Miler?
Another thing that any aspiring 100-mile rider should do
is work on the
horse's WALK. It is by far THE most neglected gait
on most endurance
horses, and I can tell you from personal experience
sitting around waiting
for riders to come into checks and to come into the
finish in the dark
that most horses travel at 2-3 mph at a walk in the
dark. There is no
need for this--work on the walk on training rides, and
on any horse worth
his salt and capable of doing the distance, you ought to
be able to foster
a reliable walk of AT LEAST 4 mph.
[Kathy Ramspott]
Do others agree with this? My girl
walks SO slow it is pretty sad. It does make sense what Heidi says, should
that be incorporated into training rides, I guess a kind of 'working
walk'?
