Any tips for bringing along a TWH

[Christa_P]

**Before this starts. I am an experienced, though currently out of shape, rider that has brought along other green horse including raising my own. I just don’t have much experience with gaited horses.

I have a 7 or 8 year old walker (might be a cross, but the walker part definitely dominant).

She is ~15H, barefoot, very green and very out if shape. I just started riding her around my fields and soon plan to explore further.

What should I be working on to encourage a solid. adjustable, running walk? She has given me a nice running walk a few times, but she isn’t really strong enough that I feel comfortable really letting her fly. She is also still figuring out how to negotiate terrain with a rider as well as just getting comfortable out in the world.

I will also add, that this is the first time I had really understood how fast a horse can walk. I thought my TBs had big walks. She would easily out-walk them.

[Rackonteur]

Your last paragraph made me :lol:. Yes, a Tennessee Walking Horse can certainly out-walk a Thoroughbred and many other WTC horses. So can many other gaited horses!

I wouldn’t start exploring farther afield any time “soon,” since you are both so out of shape. A horse needs to be in good condition to be able to gait well, even when the gait is natural to her and her rider is also in good shape. The rider’s fitness level will affect the horse’s self-carriage and way of going. As the two of you train and your fitness levels increase, you will get to know each other, and that will also help both of you.

How long have you had this mare? What was she doing before she came to you? Was she a trail horse? Did she work mainly outside or inside an arena?

What bit are you using on her? I am not at all a believer in using bits to “fix” things (because they don’t), but often gaited horses who have been ridden in a long-shanked “gaited” bit do better with those at first than with some sort of snaffle, because they learn to support themselves on the bit.

Good luck to you both!

We need pictures of your new girl!

[walkinthewalk]

Hill work for everything. Building muscle strength and also lung power. So I hope you don’t live in a completely flat area:).

for example, I live top dead center on top of a hill. It is 1.8 miles all down hill (with hairpin curves) to the bottom. Spring training for trail riding used to consist of riding down to the stop sign (1.8 miles) at a dog walk and let the horse pick it’s speed (to a degree) going back home, UP HILL all the way. I never forced any speed ---- I was going home, so the horse would naturally speed up and when it got tired, would slow down.

i did have one Walking Horse that thought everything was a timed event so I would have to force him to slow down until he got his lung power built up. He was only 14.3H my strong alpha leader, and work ethic bar none — RIP Duke:)

I never let them canter home. I always made them stay in their intermediate gait for whatever amount of time they were performing it with ease.

Hope that helps and makes sense:)

[Christa_P]

She was given to me ~4 years ago and is just getting started under saddle. The delay has been due to my schedule, not her. Her only prior experience was some very poor ground work. When I say exploring, I am still just talking about 15 - 20 minute rides, but more mental challenges like going into the woods or narrower trails than the open fields we have been in.

For now she is in a plain mullen mouth snaffle and so far that has been plenty. She is smart and sensible and I am keeping things well within both of our fitness levels.

The good pictures are on my home computer. I will post some tomorrow.

[TMares]

Look up Anita Howe, Howe They Walk farm - she has youtubes, a website, and does clinics. She made a a YUGE difference in my own TWH who gets tense and pacey. Her videos are helpful in understanding the gaits and how variable they can be; meaning I have 4 TWH and all four feel very different in their gaits. Just as horse’s trots are not the same horse to horse, nor are the walking gears.

The big thing to know is that a RW tops out at what, maybe 8-10 MPH? And that head should be nodding straight up/down, no waggling L/R. If her head gets still and she’s flying along smoothly, she’s racking which is loads of fun but isn’t a RW, A strong RW feels powerful and 4 cornered, you hear each hoof distinctly…it’s addictive Racking feels like you’re on rails.

ok I did it, here’s Anita:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzkO9XRH1dY

her stallion has more shake than I want in a trail horse, but that shows you how variable they are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5dwkwghafQ

this boy I LOVE…that’s my style of horse, notice the loose reins, nose out, in balance and not on his forehand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlvuPKZVf0k

and this sweet boy- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3awYcWUAjss

I think this will give you ideas on speed and on rhythm. Have fun!

[Paks]

Here is a very good website. http://www.gaitedhorses.net/ Though finding a good gaited trainer is a godsend in this area. Gaited horses often have what can best be described as a continuous transmission and they can slide from foxtrot, to running walk, to rack to step pace and and hard pace and all the variations in between in one circuit of the arena. You need the educated eyes on the ground until your seat gets educated as to what is going on and help you hone in on the gait you want.

[Christa_P]

Thank you for the advice. I will check out the videos when I am on a regular computer. At home I only have my phone.

As for this horse, my plans are to have fun trail riding. I want to develop her gaits so we are both comfortable.

[AshleyandAnnabel]

I own a fantastic well-known TWH horse who has 675 endurance miles and 215 LD miles. She actually does most of her gaiting in a stepping pace because that’s what’s most comfortable for both of us.

To get her to do a running walk it’s kind of like setting up for a collected trot on a non-gaited horse. I slow her pace down and gain connection with the bit, and then I use my leg and seat to urge her forward until I see that head bobbing. I really only use a running walk when I need to slow down and go that pace. I’ve also ridden other TWH’s that the running walk is so natural you don’t have to work that hard at all.

Also, if you ride with another TWH that has mastered the running walk and ride along side it on a harder trail, other gaited horses tend to pick up on the beats and can mimic the other horse. I’ve ridden with several people on gaited horses that weren’t gaiting well until I rode up with them, and my mare has also gotten pacey while trying to mimic a trot when I ride with trotting horses.

Some gaits are more comfortable for some horses than other depending on their breeding. My mare’s weakness is going uphill for sure. A lot of gaited horses are beasts going uphill, like my TB mare who did eventing for a decade so she’s already got a strong hind end. My little Harley girl is a pretty petite little TWH that was original bred for showing so uphill isn’t her strength but she gets it done! We fly downhill though!

[Christa_P]

Here is video heading home taken from her back with my phone. You can see her natural head nod. As green as she is I’m just asking for a relaxed walk and this is how she goes.

http://vid620.photobucket.com/albums…psjgwa8qwy.mp4

[Guilherme]

@TMares

Look up Anita Howe, Howe They Walk farm - she has youtubes, a website, and does clinics. She made a a YUGE difference in my own TWH who gets tense and pacey. Her videos are helpful in understanding the gaits and how variable they can be; meaning I have 4 TWH and all four feel very different in their gaits. Just as horse’s trots are not the same horse to horse, nor are the walking gears.

Even so.

The big thing to know is that a RW tops out at what, maybe 8-10 MPH? And that head should be nodding straight up/down, no waggling L/R. If her head gets still and she’s flying along smoothly, she’s racking which is loads of fun but isn’t a RW, A strong RW feels powerful and 4 cornered, you hear each hoof distinctly…it’s addictive Racking feels like you’re on rails.

One of the better “quick and dirty” summaries of gait around!!! And an important note on speed. The running walk is a distance gait, not a speed gait. If you want speed you want a rack. That gait can go in the 20mph plus range. The running walks as just a bit of a “roll” to it.

ok I did it, here’s Anita:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzkO9XRH1dY

her stallion has more shake than I want in a trail horse, but that shows you how variable they are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5dwkwghafQ

this boy I LOVE…that’s my style of horse, notice the loose reins, nose out, in balance and not on his forehand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlvuPKZVf0k

and this sweet boy- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3awYcWUAjss

I think this will give you ideas on speed and on rhythm. Have fun!

Nice horses. Nice to see people out of the mouth.

G.

[TMares]

G. she is all about the horse being responsible for his carriage- fix it and get out of his mouth.

[Christa_P]

@TMares

G. she is all about the horse being responsible for his carriage- fix it and get out of his mouth.

This is how I feel about most riding. Dressage, jumping, trails, whatever, I want my horses to carry themselves, sometimes I will ask for more collection or contact, but I don’t like to hang on their mouths or use a lot of contact in general.

The videos were very interesting and I really liked the 2nd to last horse, Kennedy In Command.
.

[walkers60]

Hate to say it Anita horses are nice but not really what I like in a TWH . The head nodding stallion has no rear end, the last horse is ok but nothing great. Thats the trouble with internet anyone can post as an expert.Most of my trail horses move much better than Anita’s and sorry that deep head nod is Not natural. The horse has been trained to do that and it is helpful in the show ring. I worked hard to get show horses to stop doing that so they can relax and last on the trail.
Back to you OP if you want a good trail horse then work this horse just like any horse to develop strength and stamina. Gaited horses are the same as all horses, riding in a snaffle is great , no need for that stupid shank.
I am a pleasure rider of gaited horses and had ridden trotters most of my life. Hey they are all horses, work on the gait just like any horse, balance, even, steady and comfortable. I’ve used TWH to herd cattle, ride Mts. and anything you’d do on any good horse. Have fun!

[Guilherme]

@Christa P

This is how I feel about most riding. Dressage, jumping, trails, whatever, I want my horses to carry themselves, sometimes I will ask for more collection or contact, but I don’t like to hang on their mouths or use a lot of contact in general.

The videos were very interesting and I really liked the 2nd to last horse, Kennedy In Command.
.

Depending on your style of riding and purpose it’s perfectly OK to ride with contact. That’s not “being in the horse’s mouth.” It’s more like the difference between finesse and force.

G.

[Second_Star_To_The_R]

Nobody needs that deep nod on a trail. I’ve had TWH for many many years. I love the breed, love the temperament and love it when they rack. I can deal with a pacey horse but generally I’ll throw shoes on the front and leave the rears barefoot and that will pull the pace out of most of them. I would rather post a trot than ride a pacey TWH.

Getting them to gait uphill is easier if you’re unfamiliar with it. To me, pacing is lazy. They have to ventroflex the spine to gait and depending on the horse, sometimes they need a little muscle and reconditioning to get there. And sometimes they just don’t want to make the effort. If the horse is just naturally very racky, it won’t matter. You can drop the reins and squeeze and you’ll get a nice four beat gait, nothing to it. For those who would rather flat walk or pace, a true, high headed rack not that nodding stuff, is in his mouth. Start squeezing him up a gentle incline with just a little back pressure on the bit with your pinkies. You’ll hit a sweet spot and off he’ll go.

IDK what kind of a saddle you’re in, but remember, his gaits need a lot of shoulder movement. Saddle fit is very important on the guys, many are longer backed and their spines are like slinkies. I swear, every one I have ever had could fold itself like a business letter. Lol
There are some very good saddles that accommodate those high withered big motioned shoulders. If you like riding a closer contact saddle look into a cutback.

If this horse has a lot of over reach in the rear, be careful of extreme down hills until he is more fit and has good muscling to protect the stifles. I’ve seen a lot of stifle problems up here in the mountains from people only riding twice a month and the hunting the biggest hills they can find.

[TMares]

To each their own. I don’t like her stallion either but her other videos and horses? Yes please. Walkers60 please do post videos of horses you like, it’s all educational.

[Guilherme]

IIRC the extreme head nod often seen today is an artifact of show breeding. Here is a video of Strolling Jim, the first WGC Walker. He nods, but it’s in time with his movement and is a result of that movement. It’s not, IMO, “over the top.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug-ltUolhQw

Listen to the narrative and where he came from.

My regular Marchador mare has a small head nod when she is in gait. Her movement, a marcha batida, is very centered and square and reminiscent of the type of movement Strolling Jim displays. That’s one reason I like her! The movement means if I’m going to ride her in contact I’ve got to have a very “kind” and steady hand otherwise I’ll beat the mouth up. It also means I have to be careful with bit selection for the same reason.

With ANY horse you have to ride for the task at hand. If the task is winning a blue ribbon in flat class in a show ring then you will ride to meet the standards of the class as interpreted and applied by the judge. That often means not just contact but significant contact. Many Walkers and Marchadors move in a more flashy manner when ridden with that type of contact. If the task is covering 20 miles on the trail then you don’t want to use “show ring equitation.” You’ll want to have the horse moving correctly, i.e., carrying himself, as that is a more energy efficient movement than just “lazing” along. And the rider can’t just slump in the saddle like an old sack of wheat. That pretty much guarantees a sore back (for both). And there’s things in the middle. If you’re going compete in Working Equitation you’ll be using at least three hand/seat techniques in a single run.

The TWHBEA does not have a formal Breed Standard. It never has. That is likely because of how the TWH, as a breed, developed. The closest thing are the judging standards of the old NHSC. Having been away from Walkers for a while I’m not sure who writes the standards for the Celebration or the Walker show circuit. They are important because what wins is what gets bred.

Select a horse based upon the job you want it to do. Walkers are good generalist horses as rule but within the Walker breed there are several different lines and each does one or more tasks better than some others. It’s possible to fit a square peg into a round hole but that will hard on the peg, the hole, and the hammer used to accomplish the task.

G.

[Christa_P]

@Guilherme

Depending on your style of riding and purpose it’s perfectly OK to ride with contact. That’s not “being in the horse’s mouth.” It’s more like the difference between finesse and force.

G.

I can and do ride with contact, but I try to keep it light and especially for trail riding I want as little contact as possible especially when just walking.

[TMares]

@Christa P

Here is video heading home taken from her back with my phone. You can see her natural head nod. As green as she is I’m just asking for a relaxed walk and this is how she goes.

http://vid620.photobucket.com/albums…psjgwa8qwy.mp4

I will not go to Photobucket, I’m sorry: Way too many ads and viruses there!

[Christa_P]

@Second Star To The Right

Nobody needs that deep nod on a trail. I’ve had TWH for many many years. I love the breed, love the temperament and love it when they rack. I can deal with a pacey horse but generally I’ll throw shoes on the front and leave the rears barefoot and that will pull the pace out of most of them. I would rather post a trot than ride a pacey TWH.

Getting them to gait uphill is easier if you’re unfamiliar with it. To me, pacing is lazy. They have to ventroflex the spine to gait and depending on the horse, sometimes they need a little muscle and reconditioning to get there. And sometimes they just don’t want to make the effort. If the horse is just naturally very racky, it won’t matter. You can drop the reins and squeeze and you’ll get a nice four beat gait, nothing to it. For those who would rather flat walk or pace, a true, high headed rack not that nodding stuff, is in his mouth. Start squeezing him up a gentle incline with just a little back pressure on the bit with your pinkies. You’ll hit a sweet spot and off he’ll go.

IDK what kind of a saddle you’re in, but remember, his gaits need a lot of shoulder movement. Saddle fit is very important on the guys, many are longer backed and their spines are like slinkies. I swear, every one I have ever had could fold itself like a business letter. Lol
There are some very good saddles that accommodate those high withered big motioned shoulders. If you like riding a closer contact saddle look into a cutback.

If this horse has a lot of over reach in the rear, be careful of extreme down hills until he is more fit and has good muscling to protect the stifles. I’ve seen a lot of stifle problems up here in the mountains from people only riding twice a month and the hunting the biggest hills they can find.

Right now I’m riding in a western saddle with a breastplate that fits alright. Most of my equipment is for more A shaped horses (TB’s), she is very O shaped.

As for the bolded - her back is short and at least for now, there are almost no withers. I hope they appear when she gets in shape though the lack of them is really making me focus on my balance :D. I am thinking about trying my treeless dressage saddle on her, but I do worry about slippage.

So far she seems to have a nice, natural running walk that I hope gets even better as her training and conditioning improve. Now I just need my schedule and the weather to cooperate so I can ride once in awhile :no:.