Hi, I'm in the 50+ gang, too! A friend (also an adult) has been riding at our barn (trainers are western/cutting, and hunter/jumper, or you can just ride your horse for pleasure if you don't want to show).  A friend has been taking some lessons and wanting a horse. Well her sister wants to give her a horse. The sister no longer rides due to back problems. She says this horse is very level headed, has done lots of trail riding (but not in the past couple of years), not spooky, is 20, in great health (just had a vet check), hooves done monthly, and well cared for at their home. They said he has 5 gaits - no registration papers so they can't say exactly what he is. No I don't have photos but think he is probably a TWH (they say he does the "rack" and is very smooth to ride). This friend was going to go to her sisters today and ride - which of course I was happy to hear. She knows how important it is to connect with the horse and feel comfortable also. So I'll be interested to hear her report!

This friend has been riding English but I'm thinking at TWH (or gaited horse) wouldn't use a hunt seat saddle - a cutback likely? It will help to know the right kind of saddle.  Also, she enjoys taking lessons but the trainer won't know what to do with her because she teaches hunt seat equitation.

I was wondering what a 5 gaited horse is? What websites have reasonable or inexpensive tack for gaited horses? Thanks. 

saddlebreds are often in five gaited competitions. maybe a saddlebred?

As soon as I read "five gaited" my first thought was also that it is most likely an American Saddlebred

They are great horses.  If it is indeed a 5-gaited Saddlebred and your friend likes the horse, it would be to her benefit to be sure someone gives her lessons as to how to cue the horse for his gaits

 I hope your friend's test ride goes well.

 She didn't go yesterday, so we'll see. If that's what she wants to do then that's the direction she should go in, but there is no saddleseat/gaited horse trainer at the barn and she would have to go elsewhere and has no trailer.  But her sister said she could take the horse for a while, however long, and if it didn't work out bring the horse back. She's owned a horse before so is probably on the fence about the cost of board, etc. which is very reasonable at our barn. Anyway, will keep you posted - meanwhile, any other thoughts?! Thanks so much.

Yes, it is most likely a saddlebred. Saddlebreds are terrific horses. They are proud, showy (even if they are just pleasure horses, they think they are hot stuff). I am a saddlebred trainer and owner. I teach saddleseat and I teach hunter. here are the answers to your questionss:

 1.) The saddle: the saddle type really depends on what the horse looks like. Normally, with a saddlebred you ride saddleseat and you use a close-contact saddleseat saddle that is cut back in front. This is because saddlebreds set their heads very high. Because of this, the line the neck makes in front of you is up, not straight out and not down (like a quarter horse might be). This means that some horses need a little space their for their neck to comfortably move. You do not HAVE to ride saddleseat on a saddlebred (although I am a bit of a purist in that regard.... 

She could ride hunter if she wanted to. The issue with hunter is again, going to depend on the horse's head set. But, if this horse is strictly for pleasure, then it won;t matter that she is riding hunter on a saddlebred with a higher head. Plus, the horse is 20 so he might not set his head as high as he used to. he also has not been used much and was a trail horse, so my guess is that he may not have been trained to set his head to begin with. All of those things could be positives in terms of your friend being able to do hunter with this horse.  So, back to the saddle issue, if the horse's head is not incredibly high, a hunter saddle might work find.

2.) As for saddlebreds in general, they are amazing horses. They were created to be plantation and parade horses. They are very aware of their surroundings and can be very brave. They are loyal and funny. Mares can be very stand offish, but a gelding is great. I am not a big mare person to being with, but saddlebred geldings have a close place by my heart.

The gates are smooth. the only issue with riding huntseat in terms of the gaits may be the trot. The trot is so fabulous on a saddlebred. But, in a trained saddlebred you post MUCH higher than you do in hunter. You must because the trot is a great deal "bigger" However, this horse is a trail horse and older, so again, I think that she should be fine. Working on slowing the trot is very easy and even big trotters can be used for smaller trots. I have a 7 year old gelding right now that has a big trot but I use him in kids lessons with teenageers and he can be slower and allow them to post in a more hunter-traditional style. He can be ridden by hunter riders as well.

 3.) As for the "5 gaits" as you say. There are essentially 4 types of saddlebreds I will be very simplistic here because it can get a bit complated). The first kind is the "country pleasure" horse (these are the show divisions that you would see at a real saddlebred show). The country pleasure division is for horses that are more natural, they do not step as high, they do not hold their head as high, they do not have fancy shoes on, etc. They do the walk trot and canter. Then there is "show pleasure" whcih is a bit fancier, the horses step higher and may have a higher headset. Then there is "3 gaited" these horses have a shaved mane to accent their extreme headset, the neck is set high and arched beautifully because the nose is tucked in towards the chest. This horse also has a tail that has been set to go UP and then down, in an arc. These horses wear tail sets all the time to keep the tail correct (it is pretty awful, I no longer allow tail setting with my horses). Then there is "5 gaited" This horse is probably an old 5 gaited horse who was taught the two extra gaits originally and then never showed in his older years. The five gaited saddlbred does the walk, trot, and canter and then the two man-made gaites: the slowgait and the rack. The first is (for the most simple explanation) a slower version of the second. The issue is that these gaits, in most horses require some very specific signaling on the part of the rider.

many horses are taught that a slight and alternating movement of the hands (back and forward about 1-2 inches, alternating hands, and doing so very quickly) matched with alternating taps with either foot. The gait feels TOTALLY different than anythinig you have experienced. It, on some horses, has a slight side to side feeling but is often VERY smooth.

 It would be best to stick to walk trot canter for the time being and wait to try the other two until the horse and rider have a set communication system that works for both of them. You never know what signal the horse was taught initially so you don't wan to frustrate things by asking for it incorrectly too soon.

from someone who is new to saddlebreds........THANKS YOU!  that was an amazing explanation. i am kinda learning as i go and that was very easy to understand.

 Wow, thanks! That is really helpful. The person of interest is having some misgivings because, as this horse is now being fed properly (owners realized the other horse was eating all the food; now he needs to gain 100 lbs according to the vet)  - anyway he is getting frisky again. Not an out of control type of horse but more get up and go than, shall we say, your average quarter horse school horse as are used at our barn, which she is riding for lessons.

I'm sure this (likely) Saddlebred is gorgeous and flashy - he is a palomino. But his energy probably is intimidating to a beginner rider. She is still getting the posting trot thing. She is a passive person, not confident. I don't want to tell her what to do but am encouraging her to take more lessons and take her time. Also, an older lady is moving her Saddlebred to the barn in a couple of weeks. So that will be good for her to have someone to help her, should she decide to get this horse. 

Your friend would be amazed how a little time longeing will toward taking the edge off of the horse. Plus it establishes who is in charge hope she doesn't let that deter her if she wants it.

paintlvr

She would also be amazed how, with some saddlebreds, longeing does absolutely nothing. Saddlebreds are saddlebreds. They were BRED to be flashy, proud, confident, breave, etc. They were not bred to be run down to exaustion before they were ridden. The problem is that because of the nature of the horse, they can become excited when longeing and so the person thinks they are not tired yet and keeps going until they have worked them too hard. I see it all the time. They will always be proud and frisky.

 Here is the deal. Lots of beginners ride saddlebreds. All real saddleseat riders (riding saddlbreds) were beginner riders at one point and while they may have initially started on a schoolie, most moved on quickly to a "flashy" saddlebred. Tiny children ride big "flashy" saddlebreds. It has nothing to do with your level. It has to do with your confidence and yoru ability to hold your seat. As long as she realizes that it is not a schoolie, that the gaits will feel different, that the walk might be a little quicker than she is used to and that she will have to post higher, that is all you need to know at first.

 The horse is not being flashy to scare her, that is how they are. Saddlebreds can also be trained to WANT to please, especially geldings. If you start with this mentality then they will really work for you without you needing to hammer it into them. You cannot MAKE a horse do anything. So why put all your effort into trying. If you approach things wtih the idea that you need to train the horse to want to please because it is rewarding to do so, then the horse will do whatever you ask.

 As for your fiiend and this horse. Obviously, she woul dneed to test ride the horse a few times before deciding. Especially since it is now being fed. I will ask what it is being fed? A lot of times saddlebreds are fed sweet feed. By simply GRADUALLY taking them off the sweet feed and switching to a pelletted feed, you will help the high energy issue a great deal. My other recommendation is to start with a lot of graoundwork. Saddlebreds can be "dancers" on the ground because they get excited. By starting there she will be able to gain her confidence in handling the horse which will then transfer to her riding when she is ready.

 I certainly agree that your time with your horse is much more pleasant when you learn to work together, as a team (with the human leading). Lunging is helpful at times but you need to know when those times are and not overuse it. Lunging does nothing much for my horse at this point (we've established my leadership). He has lots of energy and was bred to be a worker, so he'll work all day if I ask (I don't). The same principles hold true for most horses, whether a Saddlebred or other breed. Honestly, and knowing this person, she needs a very calm and slow horse right now. She needs more lessons. Maybe in a few months she'll be ready for flash and energy. And I don't know what the owners are feeding the horse now, but he has always been a trusty and kind guy.

Anway, I appreciate all you have shared. For me, "A woman's place is on the back of a Lippitt Morgan!"