Linda:
You stated:
<<I what I concur with totally, is that you must have a foundation on your
horse of classical training, if you want your horse to last using any of the
lengthened gaits.>>
While the "classical training" may be of some benefit I do not believe that
this is the proper way to go about conditioning an endurance horse to extend
its trot.
In my not so humble opinion (I have reached the age where-in I do not have
to be humble any more) The reason that you, and many others, resort to the
"classical training" is that you do not RIDE ride your horses as they are
capable of being ridden. Also you do not condition your horses to be ridden
in the manner they are capable of.
It is necessary, in order to be competitive, to ride to the capability of
the horse!!! To do this you must continually challenge your partner by
riding on difficult terrain. To ride on roads, flat ground, prepared trails
and such is doing the TRUE endurance horse a great dis-service. You should
seek out rough terrain, plowed fields, rocky trails, steep hills and true
cross-country routes. In this way, the horse learns how to handle its body
with you in the saddle. Even at a walk the horse is testing its muscles and
senses to the utmost. Work in the ring, no matter at what level, can never
equate to work cross-country in rough country.
This opinion is based on more than 26,000 miles of endurance competition
with our horses. Of these miles 96% are top ten completions! Longevity can
be measured with horses with 8,000 miles, 5,000 miles, 3,000 miles and
others with one or two thousand. And all are still going strong.
While the use of Dressage or the like can help, it can never be a substitute
for the actual TRUE conditioning done properly on the trail and cross-
country.
Bob Morris
Morris Endurance enterprises
Boise, ID