| Archive for It's About The Horse The Free Forum for those Doing Parelli - and a whole lot More! "Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful." Xenophon (430-355 B.C.), |
| sebocat |
Got to ride a Walker ;)So two weeks ago, hubby's Grandma had a stroke and ultimately passed away. We dropped everything and went to Oregon to be with his family.Its always a stressful time, and I NEEDED a horse fix, so hubby took me riding at the Fly Spur Ranch near Remond. They matched me up with a sorrel Walker gelding named Spirit and holy cow it was awesome! We rode through the high desert at 40 degrees (warm for hubby and I  ) and got to pace and gait. Holy amazng-----I need a walker!!!!
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| misstux |
My Morgan Dusty who passed away almost 3 years ago did a lovely running walk (as well as a stepping pace) along with the normal walk, trot, canter and I loved it. The Striderman does a lovely foxtrot and foxwalk and also racks. Gaited horses rock! | ||
| PasoBaby_CarolU |
I agree, gaited horses ROCK. After going gaited I see no reason to ride a trotter again. While most of my riding friends here have Paso Finos, a few that have Walkers, Foxtrotters, Rockies and Kentucky Mountain horses. We all have a blast together and all keep up with each other fine. You cover so much more ground and when you get off...you aren't sore! Last year when we went to Red Canyon, the whole group was gaited. We did a trail in 2.5 hours that took us ALL DAY the year before when we went slow enough for an Appy and a Mustang that were with us. No kidding, we were at our previous lunch spot in an hour! And we didn't gait most of the time..gaited horses also walk a lot faster. BTW - for those of you who have trotters and love them...I'm glad for you. They need love too.
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| PasoBaby_CarolU |
Suz, I should tell you that the first gaited horse I rode was a Clyde/TWH named Corey. He was the funiest horse and you could ride him all day...actually several of us could ride him all day together. Of course, we were kids then. | ||
| jackspark |
My old gal, April, can runnin' walk all day  What a gift a good gaited horse is; so gaitful for my two girls
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| bit |
Taking Eclipse out today and hope to see her rack about two miles down the road.. We are delivering a Christmas present. Last nice day for a little while. 50, and then snow Mon and Tues. ugh | ||
| PasoBaby_CarolU |
I'm jealous Deb. We are in a fog bank...have been for a week and no end in sight. Teens at night and might warm up to 35. But, it's full of pollution too, so smog. I can't spend much time outside in this crap.
But I can watch videos! Here is one Suz. Watch it twice, once looking at the horse's feet, then again looking at his shoulders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufpLgJ2qzQI And here is one of me on Bien...same deal. Look at her feet and then at my shoulders/head. She is the bumpiest of all my horses too. http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/auth_dvd?work_id=1560842 And a short clip of Bien Largoing. Note that in Paso Fino shows, the largo is still collected and has to be a 2/3 foot on ground gait. When they go faster it turns into a singlefoot. Bien is not fast. I've ridden some that go 25 mph though, and THEY are a blast! http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/auth_dvd?work_id=5030979 |
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| sebocat |
Paco, my draft cross is like riding an earthquake. He's tough to sit at the extended trot or canter. All I like is his walk and "jig" which is his I-don't-wanna-walk gait. Its actually REALLY nice to ride.
Ty is OK, he covers a lot of ground and has a floaty trot and rocking horse canter (when he feels like it) But this Walker??? They had me ride in a covered arena to get the feel for him. I expected a lot of action in his back, and at first, bounced a bit before I just sat back and relaxed. I've seen gaite horses before, but I am telling you this was nothing like what I expected. Hubby and I are now planning to move to the Redmond, OR area as soon as we can retire (about 10 more years). I had never ridden in the high desert area before - that was also AMAZING. Jack Rabbits kept exploding from the sage brush under the horses, but none missed a beat. There were also mule deer everywhere. I thing we saw about 20. Again, the horses were fine. I really see holes in my relationship/trust with my own horses after this. I am also considering talking to a local Walker Breeder. His stud and mares are all black/white paints. The only problem is, I'd have to sell one of my current horses, and that gives me some heartache. |
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| PasoBaby_CarolU |
Oh Suz...don't do that. It well could be that he has more horses then he can ride, and would welcome a good rider to help him.
But your NEXT horse...well, gosh, THAT is a given now! :-) |
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| PasoBaby_CarolU |
I'll go out on a limb here and GUESS that he is GAITING in that jig. I'm not sure if you knew that all large animals are gaited...elephants, giraffes, hippos, they are ALL "gaited!" The reason is that it is a lot less concussion then a trot. It's the only way to handle a lot of weight easily. Gait is really a fast walk - the exact same footfall pattern. A lot of "gaited" horses don't gait until their adrenalin comes up. If you could clicker train him and then get him to "jig" and instantly reward him for it, you might already have a gaited horse. |
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| CoolsLadyInRed |
Carol, What kind of saddle is that guy riding it? are his feet supposed to be way out front like that? I don't know much about gaited horses but I can sure see why they are a comfortable ride. Wow! | ||
| PasoBaby_CarolU |
I'm not sure what kind of saddle, looks like and endurance model of something to me.
I'm not sure why, but when you ride these horses really fast, it is easiest to sit on your pants pockets and have your feet forward and shoulders back. It isn't the saddle doing it, here are Pasos in Puerto Rico being raced bareback... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25ogWbvDjzg BTW - road racing is a popular sport there, but they also have tracks specifically for races. They are usually paved so you can hear the gait. They race largo (even 4-beat), Andadura (broken pace) and Pace races. Even for slower gaits, it is easy to sit on your pants pockets. I see it a lot. |
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| CoolsLadyInRed |
It looks like the faster the horse goes the farther back the rider slants or sits. No low heads for these horses. | ||
| bit |
I don't think sitting back is a good thing. I know that it felt like it's what you want to do, but my centered riding instructor made sure I was riding balanced with the horse. People want to sit back on their skies too. Very bad. | ||
| sebocat |
Its hard to explain, it wasn't like sitting back on your pockets on purpose or leaning back at all, its like the horse puts you there. (Man, I wish I ha access to a Centered Riding instructor.....) I felt balanced, though I KNOW I need more help in this area.
I have NEVER had that kind of confidence at speed before - an this on a new horse in very unfamiliar terrain! I am definately going to be trying to play with gaited horses......wonder how hubby woul feel about #3.....The local breeder has an expected foal that isn't spoken for yet (yes, I called  )
I've seen Paco jig when friends ride him, its definately a trot, and he is gorgeous when he does it. He tucks his head in and is so smooth you could drink from a cup while riding him.....its a trot, its just in super slow motion. I love the idea of clicker training him to offer the "gait"
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| thelmanelle |
I have been reading and Suz, I am so happy for you! 
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| barnelda |
Suz I sure hope your able to get your walker!
I WON"T own anything but gaited!!I ride my friend OTTB's and quarter horses and 1 arab but there is nothing like a gaited horse! If you liked the TWH TRY A PASO!!!!Now THAT is smooth baby!!!! |