popsicle
Well-Known Member
As above really! Just wondered as Lolly has some arthritis and still likes to go for a blast. So would trotting or cantering cause less joint impact?
Does trotting or cantering cause most impact to horses legs?
- Thread starter popsicle
- Start date
Aru
Well-Known Member
Trotting causes more impact then cantering...
Chico Mio
Antedeluvian
I think cantering is less concussive. I'm sure that other people will explain the bio mechanics but I have always thought that trotting is harder on the joints than cantering.
teddyt
Well-Known Member
I agree. More concussion trotting than cantering. trot is 2 time, canter 3 time
Maisy
Well-Known Member
.....so why is it 'ok' to trot on the road but not to canter???
Aru
Well-Known Member
its 'ok' to trot on the road as the horse has two feet on the ground and is more steady and less likely to slip and fall than when they are cantering where it is possible to have only one foot on the ground mid gait...
Maisy
Well-Known Member
wow.....you learn something everyday!!! for *years* i have put it down to the increased concussion!!! I assumed that because the gait is 'bouncier' (for want of a better word) there would be more concussion.....
....I suppose I have never really thought about it.....It just isnt the done thing!!!!
....I suppose I have never really thought about it.....It just isnt the done thing!!!!
Chico Mio
Antedeluvian
No it's a legs on the ground thing
Here's an animation so you can compare the two:
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-19683/Six-gaits-of-the-horse?&articleTypeId=31
Here's an animation so you can compare the two:
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-19683/Six-gaits-of-the-horse?&articleTypeId=31
Boysy
Well-Known Member
We've been known to canter on roads, well lanes actually and usually uphill but mine are barefoot so the concussion is even more reduced, not blasting up them obviously but it's no different from cantering on hard bridlepaths which mine are at the moment. Trying to find a soft piece to have a good canter on is like trying to find a needle etc........
scampi_
Well-Known Member
oh, weird. I always thought cantering was worse.
When you're on a hardened bridle path, though, it seems ok to trot but not to canter. Is this wrong??
When you're on a hardened bridle path, though, it seems ok to trot but not to canter. Is this wrong??
Chico Mio
Antedeluvian
[ QUOTE ]
oh, weird. I always thought cantering was worse.
When you're on a hardened bridle path, though, it seems ok to trot but not to canter. Is this wrong??
[/ QUOTE ]
I would do either on a hard bridle path, unless it was like some of our tracks which are rocks with a thin layer of mud which can be very slippy. I frequently cantered on rock hard ground in the south - or I would never have cantered at all, but wouldn't have done so on the asphalt roads
oh, weird. I always thought cantering was worse.
When you're on a hardened bridle path, though, it seems ok to trot but not to canter. Is this wrong??
[/ QUOTE ]
I would do either on a hard bridle path, unless it was like some of our tracks which are rocks with a thin layer of mud which can be very slippy. I frequently cantered on rock hard ground in the south - or I would never have cantered at all, but wouldn't have done so on the asphalt roads
popsicle
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
oh, weird. I always thought cantering was worse.
When you're on a hardened bridle path, though, it seems ok to trot but not to canter. Is this wrong??
[/ QUOTE ]
Thats what I thought!
oh, weird. I always thought cantering was worse.
When you're on a hardened bridle path, though, it seems ok to trot but not to canter. Is this wrong??
[/ QUOTE ]
Thats what I thought!
Mike007
Well-Known Member
I have always believed that Trotting on a hard surface eg a road was worse for the structures in the foot due to the shock waves through the shoe,but cantering was worse for the other joints.Just my opinion though.Its a very interesting question,deserving a lot of thought.
Aru
Well-Known Member
Horses that have good conformation, with strong feet and legs, strong joints and proper angles particularly in the lower leg, can usually withstand and distribute concussion without becoming lame with hard use
However as very few horses have perfect conformation its inportant to keep in mind that the horse has to use all its legs to distribute the concussion...
the structures of the foot are not only part of the horses anti concussion system though they are the first line of defence
the knees' and shoulders both have anti concussion devices within them which are designed to absorb the concussion of all of the horses gaits...the shoulder joint in the horse has no collarbone for example so the limb is only attached by muscles tendons and ligaments so the leg can dip and spring during movement rather than having shockwaves go through the spine...
Trotting on hard ground can cause problems as hard surfaces dont apply good sole and frog pressure as they have no give in them.
as a result the shockwaves travel up through the leg at a greater force through structures that were designed to take a decreased force
...sidebone for example is when the collateral cartilages calcify due to repeated strain and has been associated with trotting on hard surfaces...the cartilages usually act as a anticoncussion devise within the foot which distributes the concussion force throughout the hoof after the frog and digital cushion but under increased pressure due to the wall of the hoof rather than the frog and sole taking the most concussive shock they became hard and calcified( tho conformation is thought to play a role in their formation to).
The reason the canter gait provides is reduced concussion on the muscles and skeletal system is because of the longer period of suspension between foot falls...its also not as jarring on the hindquarters as trotting so there is less pressure on the pelvic joints(the hind limb takes more of the concussion into the pelvis and spine as its attached by a bone joint)
Sorry bout the really long post but I had to learn most of this last year so I thought id share and put it on here in case anyone was interested.. this is a good article to if anyones into this sorta stuff.
http://www.ctba.com/04magazine/aug/HORSECARE.pdf
However as very few horses have perfect conformation its inportant to keep in mind that the horse has to use all its legs to distribute the concussion...
the structures of the foot are not only part of the horses anti concussion system though they are the first line of defence
the knees' and shoulders both have anti concussion devices within them which are designed to absorb the concussion of all of the horses gaits...the shoulder joint in the horse has no collarbone for example so the limb is only attached by muscles tendons and ligaments so the leg can dip and spring during movement rather than having shockwaves go through the spine...
Trotting on hard ground can cause problems as hard surfaces dont apply good sole and frog pressure as they have no give in them.
as a result the shockwaves travel up through the leg at a greater force through structures that were designed to take a decreased force
...sidebone for example is when the collateral cartilages calcify due to repeated strain and has been associated with trotting on hard surfaces...the cartilages usually act as a anticoncussion devise within the foot which distributes the concussion force throughout the hoof after the frog and digital cushion but under increased pressure due to the wall of the hoof rather than the frog and sole taking the most concussive shock they became hard and calcified( tho conformation is thought to play a role in their formation to).
The reason the canter gait provides is reduced concussion on the muscles and skeletal system is because of the longer period of suspension between foot falls...its also not as jarring on the hindquarters as trotting so there is less pressure on the pelvic joints(the hind limb takes more of the concussion into the pelvis and spine as its attached by a bone joint)
Sorry bout the really long post but I had to learn most of this last year so I thought id share and put it on here in case anyone was interested.. this is a good article to if anyones into this sorta stuff.
http://www.ctba.com/04magazine/aug/HORSECARE.pdf
popsicle
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone. very informative.