Wednesday, January 15, 2014

"Gaited Horses and Saddles, Bits, Shoes and Stuff"



Howdy Folks,

One of the many things I'm pretty fussy, and outspoken about, is saddle fit. Gaited horses are just that. Horses with extra gaits. They walk, they trot, they have a running walk, a rack and a canter. Some gaited breeds have even more gaits. What they don't have, is a need for a special saddle or equipment. They just need, as do all horses, a saddle that fits. If a saddle fits, it fits. Some gaited horses have high withers, others not so high. Just like other horses. Some are wide, others are narrow. Just like other horses. Some have big shoulders, some don't. Some are tall; some are short, just like other horses. Why "experts" too often insist folks need "gaited horse saddles" is way beyond me. Except as a selling tool for their saddles … And yes, I've seen the big name gaited horse saddles, and no, I've not been impressed. But I'm a simple fella. Either a saddle fits, or it doesn't. Simple.
My mare Kessy and her saddle. Just a little endurance type saddle built by Larry Wilson. Has a Western tree, weighs 18lbs. Just a blanket, no pad, breast collar, or crupper. I've had this saddle a long time and Kessy is the third horse he's reshaped the tree to fit.You can read a bit about Larry HERE.
What makes a saddle fit? A horse needs to be able to move under the saddle, while the saddle stays put. It's in the tree, or the flocking. Yup we need room at the withers, the shoulders, the spine. It can't be too long, too short, too wide, or narrow. It can't bridge, rock or pinch. It must be well balanced, can't lean forward or back, and certainly not to the side. But isn't that the case for all horses? If your saddle fits, a blanket will do, no pad required. It's not the saddle that gives a horse their gait. They're born with it.

But what about all those gaited horse bits? I ride bitless. Have for years, with many different horses. I use a little noseband hackamore. Discovered it in my endurance days. I love it, and every horse I've ridden has loved it. Often I've ridden in a halter only. I really got a kick out of the times I'd ride a horse for the first time and the owner hands me their bridle with a "Walking Horse" bit and I say, "I'll use this," showing my little bitless rig. They always doubt it, then often say, "Wow, he never gaited like that for me!" It's not the bit that gives a horse their gait. They're born with it.

What about those special shoes? And I don't only mean only the horrible stacks and such they do to TWHs. There are the nasty plantation shoes and cog shoes and others, all causing damage to the foot, the joints, the legs and back. I ride barefoot. Have for a lot of years. Since before it was really catching on. And no long toes or high heels either. A gaited horse's hooves should look just like any other hoof on any other horse. "He needs longer toes to gait," they say. "Hogwash!" I say. He needs healthy feet, just like any other horse. It's not the shoes or the trim that gives a horse their gait. They're born with it.

What about the other "stuff?" There are lots of gadgets, gimmicks and attachments out there some people insist are needed to "teach" a horse to gait. Many of them too nasty for me to mention. Some not so nasty, but equally unnecessary, and to some degree, harmful to the horse's biomechanics. It's not the stuff that gives a horse their gait. They're born with it.

An exciting note I'll share here, in my travels doing my "Therapy For Therapy Horses," clinics I have several times helped what folks call, non-gaiting breed horses discover they could indeed gait. Arabian and Quarter horses to name the breeds. Click HERE to read about one of those fun times, Lilly's Surprise. And each time we had this experience, I only knew the horse a few hours, and their owner was riding in their regular tack, all I did was talk them through it.

So there you have it. A gaited horse is no different in what it needs from any other horse. They need love, respect, honor and a trusting rider who cares. Sit your horse, relax and say, "Gait please," and watch the world glide by.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

16 comments:

  1. No matter the breed, fit is important. I see so many saddles (especially english saddles, perched on top of the shoulder. thick pads may help, but why cant folks just slide the saddle back just a couple inches? My senior QH boy has very high withers for a QH and a bit of a low back. So not every saddle will fit, really most saddles wont fit, most pommels will squash his withers. So I opted to customize. I have ridden english for the past 30 plus years, western before that and mainly do trail riding. I contacted TUCKER and customized a plantation style endurance saddle, not too heavy, good hardware, good wither clearance, well balanced and secure. It didnt cost a fortune either. Doesnt impede his shoulder movement and yes, this saddle can fit most other backs as well. Each horse is an individual, sometimes just getting the right fit or even the right placement will make a huge difference for your horse, no matter the discipline. Kudos to all of those who take the time to care enough for the horses to ensure "the saddle fits" Linda

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    1. Thanks Linda! - Yes saddle fit is so important. My point is too often folks are mislead with information that gaited horses need different saddles. Whatever the saddle or horse, the saddle must fit ~ Dutch

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  2. Morning, Dutch! I'm glad I could provide you a topic for today's coffee clutch. I can only say that I asked about the strap for the breast collar only because I've always used a breast collar in the past. We trail ride on a lot of rather steep trails and when I had Pepper, the breast collar was an accepted and necessary part of her tack. So with Magic, I went ahead and bought a breast collar with her new saddle! Her sellers had used a breast collar the day I rode her but also had that other strap (I now know it's called a wither strap) to keep the breast collar up and from interfering with shoulder movement.

    I heartily agree that simpler is better. Magic is now in a soft leather hackamore, barefoot (thankfully, Pepper's Easy Boots fit Magic like a glove) and her new saddle fits great. We're ready to rumble!

    Sandy

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    1. Thank You Sandy! - And be sure to nudge me into a story anytime! - I'm so thrilled you and Magic are having so much fun!

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  3. I love this article. I cant even begin to agree how much a saddle needs tofit!! My own tall TWH with high withers is proof of that... I have friends who ride bitless on their TWH.....I do necessarily agree with the feet being cut just like any other horse though....as in the past a farrier cut my horses toes very short and she was very rough....but I am sitting here thinking that when they grew just a bit she was fine...I dont keep long toes on my guys, all TWH, but I do keep the hoof at a 50 degree angle for best travel :)

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    1. Thanks Lisa! - Oh yes I'm all about barefoot, toes and heels to fit the foot, the horse.

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  4. YOU ROCK, Dutch! Amen and hallelujah on every single point! A horse is a horse is a horse.

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    1. You ROCK too Robynne!! - Thanks for lovin' the Coffee Clutch and Horses!!! - You'll love tomorrow's post too, I'll bet - "Get Out Of The Way And Let Your Horse Gait" ~ Gitty Up ~ Dutch

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  5. Perfect timing for this article Dutch,,,i've got to get a new saddle - not only is it too small for me, Dakota has high withers,,this is not the right saddle. Been trying to figure out what he needs,,after lots of research my conclusion? one that fits! LOL!!! thanks for sharing,,, ;)

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    1. Thanks, Tina! - And yes Saddle fit is all important! and sometimes it can be a challenge, but we must be diligent, for the horse ... Thanks for being a Coffee Clutcher!

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  6. Ok, here is a problem maybe some one can help with, after going through many saddles I now ride in the Bob Marshall treeless saddle and I love it. The problem I have is with the saddle pads, I have tried everything and every kind of blanket and pad but they all work their way back from under the saddle. I have tried with and with out breast collar and even different girths. Also tried tightening the girth and leaving it loose. My mare is on the pacey side but it is comfortable and she also has a fast awesome rack. The same tack on my other horse stays put. Any thoughts. Thanks Linda T

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    1. Thanks for joining us at the Coffee Clutch, Linda! - Pacey, is actually not good for the horse, so you'll want to think about working on that. Search here on my blog for therapy exercises and try them, especially the rock back, and one step ... Now your pad/blanket thing - I'm not a fan of treeless saddles, no matter how we try, there is not the ability to distribute our weight, nor offer support. Saddle fit is a problem, for everyone, but it's part of horse ownership, and by golly I've had more than my share of situations and trials! ... The fact that your pads move might well be a sign that you and the saddle are rocking, and moving out of sync with your horse. - Sometimes horses that are a bit pacey, but have a seemingly great rack is a sign of inversion, being heavy on the forehand, and back issues we've not yet discovered. Sorry to pile so much in here, I hope you forgive me!! - Feel free to email me if you'd like to discuss more ... Gitty Up ~ Dutch

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  7. Hello Dutch
    Thank you for this post. I just discovered you today and will be one of your regular readers. I just purchased a MFT mare this past weekend and was trying to decide what to do with her feet. Worried that if I chance her from a traditional trim, flat, longer in toe, and with shoes in summer, would I loose her gait? My other horse has been trimmed by a 'natural' farrier with a mustang roll. He is old and gaits when he wants to :-) and I have had not training in riding a gaited horse, so when it happens, I am very happy. But I always wondered if I changed his feet, bit, excetera and took some lessons, maybe we would do so much better. After reading your post, I think just maybe we are doing alright on our own!! We just need more practice.
    Happy trails!!

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    1. You bet, Patti! - Keep going barefoot, free and happy! Good for you! Don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like some help! - And thanks for joining our Coffee Clutch!

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