01/23/2026
The Power of Walking; an Underestimated Gait
Let’s break it down like this:
Potential versus kinetic energy.
The trot is an extremely efficient gait; horses can cover a ton of ground and last forever at a trot.
Picture the tendons and ligaments in the leg as rubber bands. At the trot, each step loads those rubber bands with potential energy, when the horse starts to move forward and the weight is lifted off that leg, weve shot off the rubbervand and transferred to kinetic energy. Propulsion is moving the horse forward. If you want to rehab or condition tendons and ligaments, the focus is trotting since the tendons and ligaments are taking the brunt of the force. Muscle involvement at the trot is minimal; propulsion does the work.
You will however, build strength at the purposeful walk. Stridng out, engaged walking. Muscle activation is required for each step and to carry out the motion all the way through. There isn’t enough stored energy in the tendons and ligaments to actually propel the horse forward at the walk so muscle takes over and does the job.
Even better; walking over different terrains and surfaces. Different footing. These situations exercise proprioception as well; knowing where the body is in space.
You might be able to walk 5 miles on the treadmill, but doing 5 miles out on the trail requires use of muscles you didn’t even know you had. Same goes for horses. Walking on trails is the best of both worlds. You get increased muscle strengthening, stabilizer muscle activation, and the tendon and ligament strengthening that’s required to maintain momentum and posture. Neurons are firing making your horse that much stronger and definitely more prepared to complete the job asked of them in an arena.
So go out and take a walk 💪🏼