Comparison of the collected, working, medium and extended canters

Summary High speed cinematography (150 Hz) was used to determine the linear and temporal characteristics of the collected, working, medium and extended canters in 6 highly trained dressage horses. Analysis of variance and Waller‐Duncan Bayes K‐ratio t‐tests were applied to determine which of the measured variables changed significantly among the 4 gait types. The mean speed increased progressively from the collected to working to medium to extended canters (p<0.01). Changes in speed were due to adjustments in stride length while stride duration remained constant. An increase in stride length was the result of increases in the distances between successive limb placements except the diagonal distance between the leading hind and trailing front limbs which did not change. The greatest increase was between the leading front limb and the subsequent placement of the trailing hind limb. Although the same stride duration was maintained in the 4 canter types, there were significant changes in the temporal relationships between the footfalls. The step duration between the 2 front limbs was significantly reduced from the collected to working to medium to extended canters (p<0.01). The step duration between the 2 hind limbs was significantly shorter in the extended than the collected canter (p<0.01). The stride duration was maintained by increasing the duration between the leading front and trailing hind limbs.