When working our horses to develop stamina or strength, we mostly focus on work in trot and canter, but we shouldn't forget that the walk is actually a great way to develop both muscles and endurance. And while we might see it only as a warm-up and cool-down gait, we shouldn't overlook its potential benefits. Here are five ways in which working in walk can benefit your horse.

Kissing spines as a diagnosis has become quite popular in the past decade. Much like arthritis or navicular syndrome, it's a horse owner's nightmare. Some research suggests that a third of riding horses have some level of kissing spines, which is an astonishing number.