I have a RMH mare that I compete in endurance. To me he looks uncomfortable and stiff behind for sure (hocks???)
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I don’t think he’s a bad horse. The question is if he’s the right horse for you? Every gaited horse moves differently. There’s a huge variation in gait. My friend has probably had 40 Pasos. Each one is different and offers different gaits despite being the same breed. Some fino. Some corto. Some do a broken pace. Some can flat foot walk. Some pace. Some are too trotty. Some have a lovely canter. Some canter so slowly you could trot faster than them.
If you are going to buy a gaited horse, you need to try several and see which horse has the best gaits and personality to match.
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I am not at all a gaited expert but have been around a lot of them and used to own one (had him for 6 months, lovely trail horse, got him to sell for my dad, whose back couldn’t handle trail riding. I fitted him up and sold him to a lovely home…not an inexpensive horse at all!)
I think the tail and the neck position indicate a back problem. Usually these horses tend to travel quite round easily. This horse is the exact opposite…travels as a U. It’s not what I would expect at all. I will say the horse looks quite trained…most gaited horses don’t walk-canter much, and this one does a walk-canter transition easily in the videos. To me it seems like a sweet horse but not one that is comfortable. I’d get a vet familiar with gaited horses to vet it for sure. (Most vets are not trained in gaited horses! My buyer had to look rather hard to find one with gaited experience!)
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I was going to post almost the same comment. Two of my friends have RMH and they carry themselves quite round and soft. They do hold their tails a bit aloft but not stiff and constantly swishing. RMHs do come in several “types”, so there is that. However, this one just looks like he really hasn’t been brought along slowly and correctly. And/or there’s a pain issue. His gaits seem all over the place.
I’m glad OP is going to continue her search.
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I had a Paso Fino mare for a few decades, got her as an early weanling and trained her myself. By the time I finally got up on her back I had been lunging her for many months. She did not have “regular” coordinated movement at first, but even when I started training her she moved much better than this horse (mostly pacing but it was coordinated pacing), even at the beginning when I was trying to explain to her what I wanted her to do for me.
I would NOT buy this horse. I am an Arabian person and love a well carried tail. His tail is not well carried at all, there is too much tension somewhere in his body, probably his back. I suspect that he hurts somewhere, again probably his back.
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If anyone on this planet deserves a sound, uncomplicated horse, you do.
This isn’t it.
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Please don’t look at another horse you think may be stiff or otherwise not quite right. Please don’t do that to yourself.
I like gaited horses and I have a friend who has a Rocky Mountain Horse. But I would not touch this guy.
Please be kind to yourself. And firm.
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He’s not sound, he’s got a lot of stiffness and he’s guarding a very sore body. Pass.
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In the bottom (last) video, is that the seller talking? Because by her comments I can tell she doesn’t have a clue about what she’s seeing.
Keep looking.
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Thank you! I appreciate your feedback. I learn something every time I try a horse.
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Yep.
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I feel bad for him and hope he finds a good home. I passed.
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Believe me, I am being very cautious and seeking advice. I know much more now and am leaning into that knowledge. It may take a long time for me to find the right one and actually move forward with the purchase. I don’t want to go down the road I just got off of.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
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Thank you! The only reason I got interested in this one was because a friend who has 3 of them reposted the sellers FB post. I “assumed” she thought he was really nice because if she had one more stall she wanted him. Then another friend saw him on person on a trail ride and said he was nice. I started watching the trainers YouTube videos and checked out her website and liked what read and heard. Plus he was near me so I thought it couldn’t hurt to look.
I am glad I checked him out and now I know more about gaited horses and more about horses that look off.
As comfy as he felt, I think I will stick to WTC horses going forward. So I learned quite a bit trying out this guy.
I wish I could find a nice Arabian or HA. They are pretty amazing.
Appreciate your feedback - thanks!!
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Great tip about the a vet experienced with gaited horses. After looking at him and realizing how different they are, I am going to focus on a WTC horse. Nothing wrong with gaited, I just don’t know enough about them or what to look for.
Appreciate the feedback.
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Great advice!
I wouldn’t be opposed to trying another gaited horse. Trying to keep an open mind.
I am trying a variety of horses to figure out what I really like/want.
Thank you for commenting.
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Thank you!
Sometimes I wonder if I really should get another horse after the emotional roller coaster of the last 18 months. But when I am at my lessons and riding a nice horse it is so amazing and I love it. And I love caring for them.
There has to be a horse out there with a good mind and healthy body. Just need to find him.
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You ask many very good questions. Let me answer a few of them.
The owner bought him 2 years ago with the intent of training and selling him.
I was not pictured in the videos, my owner and my trainer were.
We used the owners tack. She had him in a snaffle. She offered to let me try my tack but I wanted to ride in what he was used to.
I try to take something away from every experience and this one taught me quite a bit. I am going to focus on WTC horses going forward.
Thanks so much for your feedback and questions.
Huge thank you to everyone who watched the videos and/or commented. Your feedback was very helpful and much appreciated.
Going to look at another one on Sunday and will probably take a break after that. Not in a hurry. Will continue taking lessons and wait for the right one.
If anyone has anyone hears of a horse located in or near TX (ideally) that has potential, feel free to send me a message.
Merry Christmas!
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