Howdy Folks,
Yesterday's Coffee Clutch, "Gaited Horses and Saddles, Bits, Shoes and Stuff" generated some lively
discussion, and a few questions. We pretty much covered the fact that no
special saddle, other than proper fit as with any horse, is needed. No special
bit – in fact no bit is needed. No special shoes, in fact barefoot is best, for
all horses really, but that could be a subject for another blog day again. You
can read my thoughts on barefoot, in my earlier post "Why Barefoot?"
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| Kessy Saturday and me headin' out for the trail |
I'll never forget the day I was riding
along a beautiful "rails to trail" a number of years back, and a
young woman rode toward us on a tall, stunning red and white paint. We stopped
to chat, and as I'm wont to do, I looked the horse over as he danced and
fidgeted beside us. I made note of the tight martingale, his shoes and high
heels, his hollow back, thick inversion muscles and sad, worried eyes. The tack
and saddle shined like a million bucks. Foam dripped from his mouth around, I
don't know what kind of bit. She held tightly on the reins, her legs jammed
forward, as they had been when she rode toward me. I asked her what breed her
beauty was. With a smirk she replied, "He's a registered, non-gaiting
Tennessee Walking Horse." She must have seen the question in my eyes
because she promptly added, "He's a registered Tennessee Walking Horse who
we can't make gait. He's been to several trainers, and just can't gait!"
I began to ask a question, but she cut me
off. "Don't bother, I've heard it all. No-one's ever gonna make him
gait." With that she jerked him right, and trotted away.
"Make him gait." I've never
forgotten that, obviously as I'm writing about it all these years later. I've
never forgotten the look of that beautiful horse she rode either. All the
signs, stress and breakdowns of a fine horse people were trying to, "make
gait." The over-collected, inverted, hollow backed look of a horse forced
to gait, or try too, unnaturally.
Gaited horses will gait. They're born with
it. All we need to do is get out of their way
and let them. Simply sit your horse comfortably, in proper posture, as Sally
Swift would say "in neutral," and allow your horse to walk on. After
all, the flat walk and running walk are walks; they're just a little quicker.
The same muscles used to gait are the same
muscles used to walk. Riding your horse for miles and miles and miles on the
trail at a walk, will develop those muscles, and a longer and longer soft and
powerful stride. It is important that as you ride these miles at a walk you
allow your horse to relax, walk with their head down, off the forehand, and on
a loose rein. You know, get out of their way.
About the trail miles as opposed to miles
in the ring. Trail is much preferred over the ring, no matter the size, your
horse is always preparing to turn, so are you. It's more difficult for her to,
"walk on" and develop the stride in long continued muscle engagement.
So really try for unending trail miles. Besides it's better birdwatching on the
trail. And more interesting for your horse.
In not too much time you'll feel the stride
begin to change; the hind end will become more powerful, and engaged, and
softer (Also there are exercises you should consider to free up the hind end if
your horse is short strided). She'll begin to achieve a bigger overstride. All
without forcing, over collecting, and gimmicks. And damage to her biomechanics.
It'll be completely natural, and make sense to your horse. During this time it's
fine to mix in a few canters, even trot if she wants to from time to time. What
we are doing is building confidence in her long gait and her proper body
carriage. And we are staying out of her way while she does it. I would say
during this phase look for at least 80% long, easy, but powerful walk.
When she tells you she's ready, find a nice
long stretch of level trail, ask her to walk faster. Be gentle, and stay out of
her way, but move her on and say, "Gait please." I use my right heel
and a lot of kisses, and I say the command over and over each time I tap my
heel. She'll speed up instantly, and might try for a trot or pace. Using just
one rein tap her back, Very Gently, (never ask for collection) just short of the trot, at her fastest walk
(Pacing is not good for a horse so don't do it). Then go right back to a loose
rein and let her walk on a bit before asking again, congratulating her for the magnificent
effort. Remember to smile.
Off and on, in safe level places along the
trail ask for the "Gait please" – It'll come, just before the trot.
If you did you're walking miles loyally and politely, she'll give you her flat-walk
or gait in just a few tries, remember to praise her, and every stride in gait
say, "Gait" so she learns the verbal request. At first she'll only
hold her gait a few strides, and that's perfect. Keep helping her build those
muscles. It takes a few months to build up the power to sustain it, but really,
it's just this easy. She'll learn the verbal cue fast too.
Her head should be level, her stride soft
and long, her head will bob a little, and you'll feel the glide. In time
together you'll develop a variable speed running walk. Just stay out of her
way, and enjoy the ride.
Gitty Up ~ Dutch
