This has been a very interesting discussion. I am reading as after recently trail riding in the NC mountains on some nice walkers that were gaited, I think my next horse will need to be gaited. Since I have grown up on OTTB’s and love the galloping machines as I have spent 30 years eventing, that is hard to admit. But those gaited horses were a pleasure both in temperament and by the end of long hours. I know nothing about gaits and differences so have appreciated the advice here. I truly love some of those early walking horses in that video, the walk looks comfy as well as the canter. Anyway, back to lurking but wanted to say thanks to all for the info for some of us lurking as who knows when I will be in the market for that ‘next’ horse and I feel like I am stepping off an abyss into a totally different dimension.
[QUOTE=Hannahsmom;5055516]
This has been a very interesting discussion. I am reading as after recently trail riding in the NC mountains on some nice walkers that were gaited, I think my next horse will need to be gaited. Since I have grown up on OTTB’s and love the galloping machines as I have spent 30 years eventing, that is hard to admit. But those gaited horses were a pleasure both in temperament and by the end of long hours. I know nothing about gaits and differences so have appreciated the advice here. I truly love some of those early walking horses in that video, the walk looks comfy as well as the canter. Anyway, back to lurking but wanted to say thanks to all for the info for some of us lurking as who knows when I will be in the market for that ‘next’ horse and I feel like I am stepping off an abyss into a totally different dimension.[/QUOTE]
Yup! :yes:
I defected from the trotting horses too… for the first time in 26 years. I evented, rode hunters, and then did western pleasure. I had the opportunity to work with walkers about 12 years ago and fell in love. When I knew it was time to sell my Appy, the decision was obvious. I love their gaits, their canter, and most of all their happy personalities. They are the most giving horses I have ever met! Level headed too.
It’s funny sometimes where your riding life takes you! :lol:
Welcome to the Dark Side, Hannahsmom. We’ll have you sneering at horses that can only dogwalk and trot in no time.
Actually, I had appys and loved them and all the stock-type breeds. I dont mind trotting at all, but man oh man the other gears can be quickly addictive. I am no spring chicken and when I think I am sore after a long ride I remind myself just how stiff I’d be if the nags didnt have the rocking chair stuff going on.
I am just seeing this thread. My goodness I would love to get my hands around the throats of the people that let him get in this condition — regardless of their excuses or reasoning.
His hooves look amazingly good.
He strongly resembles my Generator-bred TWH that performs the champagne-smooth running walk people lust after.
He often trots at liberty, especially when he’s behind my Arab, so at this point, I wouldn’t worry much about the trotting.
Someone commented that “there is pacing then there is pacing”. My best bud of 20 years performs the Stepping Pace every bit as smooth as my Generator-bred fella performs the running walk. He is a hard lateral pacer in the pasture and when he’s tissed at me for something and tries to do that, it just about jars my teeth out. He only gets a few steps in and I bring him down to a dog walk and make him start over.
Pacing has been in the Walking Horse Genes since their beginning. This link has some great history and it does mention the Morgan mare, Maggie Marshall, who is the TWH Foundation Mare of Record. Morgans were and still are gaited, even though it angsts some Morgan folks to know that:winkgrin:
http://www.walking-horse.com/past/thebreed.html
Ditto every one the saddles - you have been given lots of terrific information. The key things is fitting him with a saddle that gives him plenty of freedom forthe huge sweeping motion of his shoulders.
I used an Arab-cut saddle on one of my TWH’s, who was short-backed, when I was just starting him under saddle but that didn’t last long - lol
Congratulations to Ernie for finding such great folks to care for him. TWH’s are naturally gentle and forgiving in nature, I am sure he will give back a hundred-fold:)
I don’t mind pacing, you can post it like a trot. I did a lot of posting when I was trying out gaited horses. The only exceptions are the Paso Finos and Peruvian Pasos, for whatever reason they have their act together and those horses hit the ground gaiting. I just don’t like the infamous Camel Hump Walk (it’s awful! I turned down a very nice Fox Trotter because of it) or the jello walk, which is common for TWH’s.
Here’s a pacing video: (it comes out of the shadows at 10 sec.) You can see the legs on the same side of the horse moving together at the same time. And the rider is bouncing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ2yO9gBXTA&feature=related
Here are a couple of running-walk videos. You can see the big stride from the back legs and all the legs are moving individually.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynIW3SGW8BI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYaniQ-fSnY&feature=related
I learn more from videos than I do from books. 
