DabDab
Thinks the luddites had a point...
I mean gaits like tolt and the Paso gaits
Trotwork as especially strenuous for the horse
- Thread starter stangs
- Start date
sbloom
Well-Known Member
I'd have advised if I could remember the detail, it'll be to do with balance and healthy movement patterns (obv or maybe not?) but not sure on the specifics.
The Xmas Furry
Old Timer
Canter in a v light seat is much more used with endurance than trot.
I've been encouraged to do this more, particularly to start with and for uphill work on friends 2 endurance horses, one of which is a 100km + horse.
I've been encouraged to do this more, particularly to start with and for uphill work on friends 2 endurance horses, one of which is a 100km + horse.
frankieduck
Well-Known Member
I think it varies depending on conformation and horses way of going. My mare prefers to canter, my gelding is naturally quite on the forehand, struggles to collect and therefore finds trot much easier, if we are hacking out in company he will often pull out a ridiculous fast trot to keep up with the others before he decides he needs to break into canter, I call it his “cart horse trot” 
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
Having had a few with assorted gaits my experience has been varied.
1. Trot and a 4 beat canter were easier than tolt at slower speeds but speeding up tolt was easier than trot or canter. He had no pace except on rare occasions.
2. Trot was easier than tolt but canter easier than fast tolt or Trot. No pace.
3. Natural tolter. Tolted easily and effortlessly. Nice trot if I could find it. Canter tended to be lateral and would pace if tense. Did some endurance (up to 35 miles) mainly in tolt.
4. Can tolt, trot, canter , pace. Favourite gait though is a relaxed 4 beat which will drift from a broken trot (foxtrot) through tolt to a pacey tolt depending on the surface or gradient. On an undulating surface rhythm constantly changes unless he is told firmly what is wanted. Will pace if tense.
My Fells found trot much less strenuous than canter.
Last edited:
Hackback
Well-Known Member
Wow, this is really fascinating. I've never ridden a gaited horse, although my older Arab very occasionally pulled a weird four beat pace out of the bag when he wanted to trot but I wanted him to walk. I was always on my own so no witnesses to tell me what was going on, but it was very comfortable and I wish I could have got him to replicate it on request.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
There a lot of horses can pull different gaits out of the bag at times
YourValentine
Well-Known Member
And in general a long distance endurance canter is more of a lope, in that its a very flat pace compared to a normal english horse canter, (if that makes any sense?) Which makes a light seat easier as its less rocking and a smoother sway. Or that's what I found anyway.
I think in general trot vs canter is as others have said horse dependent. And probably relates back to what they were originally bred for.
Carriage horses used to trot long distances, (not canter as portrayed by movies) So anything with carriage pulling lines, however far back, will probably trot over canter.
Same for anything bred for hill work, would mainly be done in walk and trot, with limited cantering.
But bloody horses, bred to be ridden or race will probably find canter easier.
With massive individual variation based on confirmation, up bringing etc.
With P2P's traditional advice was that 3 miles brisk, up into the bridle walking was equivalent to a mile cantering, as prep muscle and endurance wise for galloping.
planete
Well-Known Member
My Fell cross will only canter under duress when ridden and reserves the gait for short bouts of fury or dire emergencies when turned out, otherwise he trots, sometimes as fast as a horse cantering.