I should have added in my post that we do condition
at a canter. I agree on the speed part as well, Casino's trot varies from 10-16
mph and his canter has been clocked at 22mph by my gps. When I said go at
the pace your horse is comfortable with was meant for conditioning as well as
riding in endurance. Also that is assuming you have a fully mature horse, I hate
seeing people work the young ones (under 6) at the faster paces for long.
I remember when we used to think that it was easier on the horse to trot,
trot and trot some more. Back before the heart monitors. But with them,
the rider can actually see what gait the horse is more efficient at. I
let my horses do what they run best at. That may be a trot for some, and
a canter for others. I can't even say that it depends on the
breed. Rose, part arab, part Paint, is more efficient at the trot, where
Cash Pony, is more efficient at the canter...he is also part arab...but other
part is TWH. The key here is to pace them at the same gait they are used
to doing conditioning. To break it down more, the same gait for some horses
isn't the same speed for others. Aries "canters", at most horses'
gallop.....at least according to Marie. ;-))
