changing gaits

["Carl & Christy Logan" <logan@etex.net>]

When conditioning, I would change gaits between slow trot, fast trot & slow
canter ... some gallops .... always changing diagonals & leads.  Then, my
horses started doing this on their own.  I would just let them pick the
gait they wanted to be in at that time (only if I agreed ... i.e. not trot
when I wanted walk, etc).  That seemed very good to me for their muscles,
joints, etc.  Then, after reading Nancy Loving's book, I got the impression
(maybe wrongly), that it was taking more energy to change speeds (?gaits)
than to maintain a constant speed.  

Did I totally miss the boat on this one??   Is it better to change gaits
and speeds periodically ??   Or does it require such an energy surge to do
this??  I used to do 10K and I would change my speeds, arm position, back
position, etc to relax while running.

Thanks for your reply

Christy


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