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New to gaited horses...

Last post 10-30-2007 3:26 PM by HI00. 16 replies.
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  • 10-24-2007 1:20 PM

    New to gaited horses...

    As you may have read in some of my other posts.  I am new to the idea of gaited hores.  I say that because I've had my Standardbred for about 8 years now, but I've never done anything but w/t/c (with a little bit of odd gaits thrown in there when we were confused).  After reading an article in Horse Illustrated (i think, it may have been Equus) about Standardbreds and training them to gait I've become interested in exploring that side of my boy.  And after reading the posts about gaited saddles and fitting a gaited horse I am even more interested.  But I have no idea where to begin.  As right now I am working through an issue with him and may not be able to do much riding this winter, I was hoping for some suggestions for reading material so that I can famailize myself with the gaits and training.  Any suggestions with regard to what expect and how to ride a Standardbreds gaits?  I haven't seen many post from SB riders out there so this maybe a shot in the dark.   walkinthewalk had some very good thoughts for me under the saddle fitting thread, but unfortunity though I could grasp the spirit of it I am still lost in the fundementals of it.  Such as what type of cues and the riders aids???  You all seem very knowledgeable, please help a new comer to gaiting.

    :-)

  • 10-25-2007 8:59 AM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    I hope Touchmenot replies, as she is much more knowledgeable on cues and also more eloquent in speaking while getting her point across in an understandable mannerBig Smile

    I am a trail rider so nothing elegant here - lol lol.  I ride bareback 98% of the time.  When I want my TWH's to "walk on", I will sit "down and back" on my butt (with my torso remaining erect), loosen & lower my reins and either cluck or ask them to "walk on".

    If I need a little more encouragement, I will squeeze gently with the calves of my legs.  I use the calves of my legs to get speed because  all my horses know that any pressure from my knees UP to my thighs means we are beginning a steep climb and I am hanging on for dear life - lol lol lol

    Also, until TMN comes in, here are a few links that might be of help.  This first one is a short history on the Standarbred, if you haven't already read it.

    http://www.gaitedhorses.net/BreedArticles/Standardbred.htm

    This one briefly talks about setting the gait on a Standardbred.  When it speaks of the "Singlefoot rack", that means there is a point in time when only one hoof is on the ground.

    http://www.horseadoption.com/tr_sbrack.htm

    It also speaks to shoeing methods.  Something not to be taken lightly and should involved an excellent blacksmith.  The blacksmight needs to clearly understand how to weight the horse's shoes, otherwise the horse could end up lame.

    There is a science to putting different weighted shoes on a horse, especially in the experimental stages.  It isn't just a matter of "oh we'll throw THIS weighted shoe on the back of him and THAT weight shoe on the front of him and he'll be good to go".

    That may not be something you want to do, but it's good to be aware of, in case someone does bring it up.

     And last but certainly far from least, here are a couple of famous speed rackers.  Not only for fun watching, but for riding pointers

    Hopefully watching how the riders are sitting and holding the reins (on the road and in the ring), will give you some tips.

    Notice at about 1:26 into the video that Rowdy kicks it up a couple notches -- lol  Rowdy is considered a Standarbred, but I'm not sure if he's 100%

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z8TmPRTUOc

     

    This is Gravedigger -- yet another fantastic speed racker.  He is a Walking Horse

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DytqyLjJd0A

    Another Great --- Stroker's Power House.  He is registered Racking Horse.  The bulk of racking horses have standarbred blood in them somewhere:)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SYgl5APFHA 

    Again, while you might not aspire to own a speed racker, the point is the odds are good of getting your SB to gait in a pleasurable manner.  If he has ever paced on the track he is capable of a Stepping Pace, a 4-beat rack, a singlefoot rack.  Were he mine, I wouldn't be particular as to which gait he does as long as its smooth and he's not trotting

     

  • 10-25-2007 1:32 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    Thanks for all the input!!!  He was a pacer on the track and lately that seems to be his favorite gait.  As far as speed goes he has more than enough of that.  On the track his personal record was a mile in 1:52.  When I use to ride with my mom, he would trot faster than her horse could canter!  We would leave them in the dust, that is until I couldn't keep my feet in the stirrups any longer.  lol lol  It was quite the bumpy ride, but boy was it fun!  So I know he can pace, my mom use to say that it looked like he was  doing a singlefoot, he very well may do the other gaits too I just don't know what I'm feeling for yet.  I guess right now my biggest concern is not confusing him, as I would still like to do w/t/c if and when I want to.  So it looks like I have my work cut out for me.

    Okay so I guess I should have read the WHOLE article first.  Sorry, pls ignore the following question... 

    A question about the shoeing... He has super good hooves (that my farrier loves) and because we mostly do trail riding (and not as often as I'd like) I have not been shoeing him.  In fact he has been barefoot for the almost 5yrs.  I will talk to my farrier in about, two weeks when he comes to trim, but I'm wondering if he will be okay barefoot.  Based on the low amount of riding (roughly two times a week) and the fact that it would probably take a tornado to get us to a show. lol lol

    Thanks again!Smile

    Filed under: ,
  • 10-25-2007 1:58 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    HI00:

    A question about the shoeing... He has super good hooves (that my farrier loves) and because we mostly do trail riding (and not as often as I'd like) I have not been shoeing him.  In fact he has been barefoot for the almost 5yrs.  I will talk to my farrier in about, two weeks when he comes to trim, but I'm wondering if he will be okay barefoot.  Based on the low amount of riding (roughly two times a week) and the fact that it would probably take a tornado to get us to a show. lol lol

    Thanks again!Smile

    Since he has excellent hooves, the blacksmith is happy, and you're not planning on making a speed racker out of him, I would just leave him barefoot and work with him in baby steps.  TMN has written some really good stuff in a couple threads in this Section, regarding getting them to gait.

    I can't remember which threads, but one of them might be in "dbbear's" thread regarding the new horse her sister bought. 

    There are some great videos out there too.  I think Lee Ziegler, Lynn Palm?  and a couple others, which TMN also mentioned.

    They are Walking Horse videos, but the principle is the same with any of the "American Gaited Horse breeds".  Pasos and Icelandics, etc, may teach differently.

    I am so sorry I'm not a whole lot of help - lol lol

  • 10-25-2007 2:22 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    You've been a great encouragement which is probably the biggest thing I needed.  Just to get out there and look for the info and then get out there and try.  Right?

     With the computer that I use for internet access I can't view videos, so sad. :(  But the two sites that you recommended had a few pointers that made me think back to different times in my training with him and realise that I was really close.  So I think that it makes a bit more sense to me what I'm looking for and perhaps how to get there.  Just hope that I didn't make it harder to train him by not letting him do it back then.  We shall see...

    Thanks again!

  • 10-25-2007 2:41 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    HI00:

     With the computer that I use for internet access I can't view videos, so sad. :(  But the two sites that you recommended had a few pointers that made me think back to different times in my training with him and realise that I was really close.  So I think that it makes a bit more sense to me what I'm looking for and perhaps how to get there.  Just hope that I didn't make it harder to train him by not letting him do it back then.  We shall see...

    Thanks again!

    I wish you could view the videos, they are awsome.

    Another thought might be to Google "setting the Standarbred's gait" or some such thing.

    Again, I am keeping my fingers crossed TMN sees this thread and comes in:)

    Good luck and please keep us updated:)

  • 10-25-2007 2:54 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    I have some thoughts and will chime in later.  I just can't get past watching The GraveDigger!!  If I could own any horse in the world, the GraveDigger would be it.  I'd give my eyeteeth to get a ride on that horse!  You need to find a computer at the library or somewhere where you can watch the Grave Digger video; he is SO EXCITING!!!  I've seen him in person and he is so THRILLING. 

    More later .....

  • 10-25-2007 11:00 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    I've never trained a Standardbred, but here is what I have to share.  You will need to learn about gait in three ways.  First, you need to learn mentally what the timing and footfall pattern is so you can identify the gaits.  Second, you'll need to learn how to recognize it watching the horse work (for example if you have someone video tape your riding).  Then, you'll need to learn how to feel it in the saddle.

     To start with, Standardbreds can pace or trot.  Pace is a two-beat lateral gait (both legs on the same side of the horse set down at the same time) and at the other end of the spectrum, trot is a two-beat diagonal gait (opposite legs set down at the same time, such as right front and left rear).  In between true lateral and true diagonal are the intermediate gaits of stepping pace, rack, running walk, fox trot, etc.  The horse has genes that determine if he can pace or trot; then there are additional genes (walk modifiers) that give a gaited horse the ability to modify the pace or trot into a four-beat "intermediate" saddle gait. 

    I tried to type an example of the gait continuum below (I hope it is understandable):

                                                                  Gait Continuum

    |------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------|

    Pace                                     Step pace              Running Walk              Fox Trot                       Trot

    (Lateral)                                                                                                                                   (Diagonal)

     

    So, depending on your horse's genetics, he can potentially pace, trot, and maybe do a stepping pace or a rack.  The genetics determine that.  There is a fabulous book that is required reading (LOL).  It is called Heavenly Gaits by Brenda Imus.  She explains all the saddle gaits and where they fit on the continuum.  The timing and footfall/support pattern is different, that what separates them.  I highly recommend this book so you can learn what all the saddle gaits are; then you will be able to start identifying what your horse can do.

    When watching the horse go through his paces, sometimes it is difficult to make sense of what gait he is doing, especially if he is doing it fast.  You can use different color leg wraps, like blue on the left legs and orange on the right.  Then, instead of figuring out which leg is doing what, you can see if both orange wraps go forward at the same time, the horse is pacing.  If one orange and one blue go forward at the same time, the horse is trotting.  If the horse is doing a four-beat gait and his head is nodding up and down in time with the gait, he is doing the flat walk or running walk.  If he is doing a four-beat gait and his head is nodding from side to side, he is racking.  If he is doing a four-beat gait without any headshake, he is saddling, a generic term for an ambling four-beat gait that doesn't have the overstride of the running walk.

    The way that we train walkers (I'm an amateur so I don't know a whole lot) is that we start asking them to step up from a walk, and see what they do.  Just like WTW said, take a deep seat and cluck.  (Note:  We're big on "clucking" in the gaited horse industry.  Stick out tongue My horse Gunslinger just waits for that one cluck that he knows he can kick in his afterburners and GO!)  Then you can see what the horse offers you.  Based on what he offers, you can do different things.  If he paces for example, you might try doing a lot of circles.  When the horse paces, his back is a little hollow, and the circle work helps supple the horse's back.  So, you can make nice big circles and figure eights, and you can also spiral in and out.  You can also take the horse over cavaletti to break up a pace, and you can work him up a hill, which shifts his weight and will sometimes put him into a running walk.  If the horse trots, you can use other exercises to try to get him to ease into a four-beat gait.

    There are two wonderful videos that Lonnie Kuehn has produced:  Smoothing Out the Pacey Horse and Smoothing Out the Trotty Horse.  These videos give natural exercises to help the horses find the right "gear" as we call it.  It does make a difference in how you put pressure on your reins; however, I like staying out of the horse's mouth and letting the exercises shift his weight.

    Once you find the gear that you like (like a step-pace), keep working the horse in that gear to build consistency.  I don't trot my horses or pace them either.  If they break into a trot or pace, I slow them down to where they have a four-beat gait and build consistency there.  Don't let them speed up or slow down.  When you get them in gear, you hold them there.  The way one trainer I had put it:  Don't change anything; just keep him going in that gear.  You can see that in the GraveDigger video especially when he is riding on the road.  The trainer put him in gear and just holds him there; the horse is totally consistent in his timing, like you wind up a clock and it just ticks in time.

    Once you build consistency, the horse will go in that gear when you cluck him up.  (Some Southern culture and lingo:  "cluck him up" means to ask him for some speed, and getting him "clucked up" means you've got the horse going in his gear.  I just love the lingo!!  So, now you know if somebody asks you if got your horse clucked up, you know what clucked up means!!!!!  If you are just doing a slow dog walk, you are NOT clucked up!!!!!) 

     With Gunslinger and Flashcube, we cluck to ask for speed and also voice train for "Show Walk" or "Show Gait."  These are actually spotted saddle horse terms, with Show Walk being a flat-foot walk and Show Gait being a running walk or rack or whatever your horse does.   I gently squeeze with my lower leg if I need to speed him up a little more. I don't have a cue for trot, so you will have to look another source as to how to best cue for trot.  With the show horses, we actually take a hold of the bridle (take the slack out of the rein and put a little more pressure on the bit and raise our hands) when we ask for speed, because we're setting them up in collected frame.  Once they collect themselves and get into gear, then we ease off the pressure and just keep a consistent feel in the mouth and just hold them where they are at..  This is what we do for Show Pleasure classes.  If I'm riding a Country Pleasure class, then I let the horse stay on a slack rein, and his head is lower and his step isn't as high.  This is more of what WTW described with her trail pleasure horses, she loosens the pressure on the reins to go forward because the horse is in a trail gait with a relaxed way of going (think of a typical Western pleasure horse with a relaxed head), whereas the show horses are collected (think of a saddleseat horse with a high head carriage and higher step).

    Feeling gait in the saddle is another topic and there is so much more to say; but it is past my bedtime!  Lee Zeigler does have a book out and she is considered very knowledgeable.  All of Lonnie Keuhns videos are good, and there is a set of DVDs called Gaits of God by Brenda Imus.  It is very expensive, but it does show examples of horses fox-trotting and doing running walk.  I haven't looked at the whole set yet, but it might be worth putting on your Christmas list!  Lonnie also has a shoeing video that explains about using weight on front and back to help get the horse in the right gear.  Lonnie's videos are reasonably priced and well worth it; sometimes National Bridle Shop will run sales on her videos so you can get them for a few dollars off regular price.

    So, take a deep seat, cluck him up, and see what you get from your horse!!!!!!   Or as they say at the Celebration (and it sends tingles down my spine)  "Okay riders, take a deeeeep seat and let 'em walk on!  The music speeds up, the horses speed up, and it is just so exciting and fun!

    Hope that helped, and I hope you enjoyed the culture and vocabulary of the South.

    P.S.  Can you tell that I just LOVE my gaited horses!!!!!!Big Smile

  • 10-26-2007 12:08 AM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    Here are some pictures of gait that might help you. 

    This is Flashcube in a stepped up gait; this is the running walk.  He has three feet on the ground at one time, indicating that he is walking.  Notice the high head carriage and my friend riding him is keeping the reins high.  Notice how Flash keeps that back foot flat on the ground; he has one of the best backends you will ever see.  This is a show style of gait.

     

    Flash

    This is Flash gaiting at speed; note his tail is held high and he is having a BLAST!  My friend riding him is just keeping that consistent hold on him, just like the GraveDigger video.

    Look at Flash Go

    This is me on Flash; I don't have him collected as much but he is gaiting at speed.  (What a blast to ride!!!)

    Flash & Me

    This is Flash doing a running walk, not as much speed.  Note the three feet on the ground.  In the flat-foot walk, the horse always has two or three feet supporting him at all times.

    Flash Stride 

    This is Flash when he was first being trained to saddle.  The guy riding him is leaving the reins relaxed and finding out what gait Flash will give him.  This is where you start when working with a gaited horse.  Just allow him to show you his gaits.

    Flash & Grady 

    This is Joe in a nice flat-foot walk.  This is a more relaxed posture in the horse.

    Macho Joe

    This is Flashcube in a stepping pace or step-pace for short.  See how both feet on the left side are down at the same time, and the feet on the right side are picking up and going through their stride.  The right rear leg will hit the ground first (see how it is moving forward), followed by the right front (he is getting ready to move the leg forward).  Where a running walk is a 1-2-3-4 even timing, the step-pace is 1-2---3-4 timing. You can see that here, the 1-2 part of the gait was the left feet setting down on the ground, now there is a period of delay where both right legs are in the air before 3-4 set down.

    Flash Show

    This is Flash very early in training; there is no bit (note this young man is a professional rider) and he is relaxed in his reins.  Flash is doing a stepping pace here also, and having a great time as always, with his tail in the air!!!!

     Flash Tail up

    Hope that makes sense; those were the best pictures I could find at 2 a.m.   I don't have any racking photos, but you can probably find some by Googling.

  • 10-26-2007 9:45 AM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    Thank you for all the info.  And I was able to watch the videos!  They are very impressive!  Wish I could show them down a bit though to better see the foot falls.  But you all have given me a lot to work with here.  I plan to go to the barn this weekend, I may not be able to do much with him but at least I have a lot to try.

     Thanks!

  • 10-26-2007 10:13 AM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    Geez, you don't need me after all that good stuff that TMN has said. Isn't she great at that!!!! What great pictures too!

    Here's my thoughts...I love Lonnie Kuehn's videos. They helped me out so much. Also, though I don't think that TMN mentioned this...I think that you would benefit greatly from setting up a video camera (or have a friend help) and taping yourself while riding. The reason that I say this is because it helps you to relate the "feel" of the gait with what the horse is doing. This is nice when you work a young or new horse because you can see how they are improving with more hours under saddle. You can take the video inside in the evenings when you are relaxing and play it back. You can stop it, rewind, slow it down, pause...or whatever. It really helps with understanding gaits.

     I have horse that does what I call a wonderful saddle lick. She only has about a 6 inch overstride (maybe a foot) and it is smooth as silk. There's nothing wrong with not having a huge overstride. Each horse is built differently. Just like TMN said, look at Flashcube's back end...it's awesome...but they don't all have that. You'll see the difference once you see a lot more pictures and video.




    Horse-n-a-Hound Farm
  • 10-26-2007 1:06 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    TouchMeNot2:
    We're big on "clucking" in the gaited horse industry.

    TMN has provided such great information that I don't have anything to add, except to wish you good luck and keep us posted. And to mention that some of us are clucking-impaired and have to resort to a kissing noise Tongue Tied. Fortunately, Minx now associates smooching with moving out. One or two kisses and she's off to the races.

  • 10-26-2007 1:58 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    Sometimes that I do so much clucking and smooching when I'm riding my new horse, Midge, that my mouth ends up hurting! I love it once they figure out the routine. Then I just say "gait" and occasionally give them a little clucking.




    Horse-n-a-Hound Farm
  • 10-26-2007 2:44 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    LuckyLady:

    TMN has provided such great information that I don't have anything to add, except to wish you good luck and keep us posted. And to mention that some of us are clucking-impaired and have to resort to a kissing noise Tongue Tied. Fortunately, Minx now associates smooching with moving out. One or two kisses and she's off to the races.

    Sorry, I didn't mean to be a topic hog.  I realized after I posted my stuff that the purpose of this forum is for people to chat, not for me to write a thesis on gait!!  I just got on a roll last night!

    Being clucking-impaired is a serious issue! Stick out tongue  My husband's mouth gets so dry he can't cluck.  He was riding Gunslinger at one show and couldn't get the horse where he wanted him to be in his gait.  I told him "just cluck to him; how hard can it be?!!!!"  And he told me "I can't cluck, my mouth is too dry!!!!"  Smile

  • 10-26-2007 6:48 PM In reply to

    Re: New to gaited horses...

    TouchMeNot2:
    Sorry, I didn't mean to be a topic hog.

    Heck, don't apologize. We all wait to hear from you on these gaiting questions because you have so much good information and explain things really well. My best advice is pick up the reins, sit deep, squeeze gently and cluck (or in my case smooch). I don't have much technique but Minx seems to know what to do naturally as long as I relax and let my body flow with her rhythm.

    I seriously can't cluck loud enough for even Minx to hear me. But I do a mean smooch! You can ask the DH.Wink


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