I’m re-watching the flat phase of the ASPCA Maclay Finals from 2013 and I had a question. At one point in the canter the announcer said, “Out of the corner on the judges side show a collected canter, in front of the judges show an extended canter, and in the corner show a working canter”. What is the difference between an extended canter and a working canter?
Working canter is the speed/stride length you’d need for jumping a course. Extended canter would be like a 16 foot stride (and thus naturally faster) – like a hand gallop, but you continue to sit the canter.
Canter is 12-14mph. Hand gallop is 14-16mph. Extended canter is just lengthening of stride at the working canter. Extended canter is performed seated. Hand gallop is in 2 point/half seat.
Working canter is the “normal” canter.
An extended Canter is NOT faster … it is a lengthening of stride , it covers more ground in the same amount of time but does not increase the pace. A hand Gallop increases both speed and length . Collection is a shortening of stride but again not pace .
MIKES -
If “faster” means “more speed,” then surely covering more ground in the same amount of time is “faster” using standard definitions. My understanding would be that extended canter is not to be “quicker” than working canter (i.e., same tempo). Same for collection - same tempo, less speed over the ground.
Or perhaps you have a different explanation?
Thank you, Huntin’ Pony. Whenever anyone says an extended canter is not faster, it gets stuck for me. It IS faster across the ground…it’s the tempo/rhythm/pace that doesn’t change. Most people mean that when they say it isn’t faster, but it’s an imprecise statement…because there is more than one piece that faster can be describing.
It’s like this:
Person A takes .5 seconds to take a 3’ step.
Person B takes .5 seconds to take a 4.5’ step.
Person C takes .5 seconds to take a 2’ step.
Person A and B start and F and go to H. While they are on the same tempo/rhythm, but Person B will arrive at H faster than Person A because the stride is longer.
Person A = Working Canter
Person B = Extended Canter
Person C = Collected Canter
If the distance from F to H is 60’ (let’s just say…I’m not doing the math), it will take:
Person A 10 seconds to get from F to H
Person B 6.6 seconds to get from F to H
Person C 15 seconds to get from F to H
The tempo/pace stays the same, but the horse is moving over the ground faster or slower than working canter.
Yes I guess that is true , My friend is 6’2 I am 5’4 her stride is 5 ft at the walk mine is 2’6 ( really have to stretch walking the lines ) I have to run to keep up with her … So an extended Canter will get you from A to B faster then a Collected Canter but the rhythm is the same. However my Extended walk and her regular walk would get to the same place at the same time.
Extended canter is a lengthening of stride without a lengthening of frame. A plain lengthening of stride would also involve a lengthening of the frame. In dressage, lengthenings appear at lower levels than extended gaits; the horse should have more pushing power from the hind end at the higher levels and thus be able to do a true lengthening. <— last word should be extension
In the context of an equation test, I’m not sure how carefully they’re looking at the difference between the two.
[QUOTE=Peggy;8776673]
Extended canter is a lengthening of stride without a lengthening of frame. A plain lengthening of stride would also involve a lengthening of the frame. In dressage, lengthenings appear at lower levels than extended gaits; the horse should have more pushing power from the hind end at the higher levels and thus be able to do a true lengthening.
In the context of an equation test, I’m not sure how carefully they’re looking at the difference between the two.[/QUOTE]
do you mean they should be able to do a true extended canter rather than lengthenings at higher levels? I’ve always considered lengthening easier than extending…perhaps I’m wrong.
OP asked about extended vs. working…but I do think ther eis more leeway in eq and you often get a lengthening rather tha an extended canter.
If anyone has time I have a great story that I’m willing to share…
Yes, a lengthened gait is just a lengthening of stride but there is really no change in balance. An extended gait is harder. The horse has a greater degree of impulsion, travels more uphill, and has more suspension. Because it is in better balance, it will also produce a longer stride than a simple lengthening because it can do so without falling flat on its face. In dressage, a lengthened trot is asked for quite early in the horse’s education. It shows the horse has an understanding that the leg can mean “push more” (i.e. produce impulsion) and not just “increase the tempo.” A true extended trot requires the horse to be proficient at collection, because it requires a greater deal of balance from the horse. Same goes for the canter.
Working canter is the natural gait of the horse. An extended canter has a longer stride, and should remain uphill. The actual length of stride will depend on the horse-- a pony can produce an extended canter, but the stride length may be less than say a 17hh warmblood at a working canter. It has to do with the overall balance of the horse and the stride length relative to their natural gait.
[QUOTE=RugBug;8776694]
do you mean they should be able to do a true extended canter rather than lengthenings at higher levels? I’ve always considered lengthening easier than extending…perhaps I’m wrong.
OP asked about extended vs. working…but I do think ther eis more leeway in eq and you often get a lengthening rather tha an extended canter.[/QUOTE]
Yes. What you bolded should have been extended.
