Ok to let Tennessee Walking Horse Pace?

[anon38350891]

Letting a gaited horse pace is encouraging a bad habit. If changing the saddle does not solve the problem,and you still like this horse lease, do a ton of bending. At a standstill, gently bring the horse’s nose back to your knee on both sides, many times. Step in a very tight circle, almost on the spot. Do the ribbon-candy exercise down the long wall. Pacing is often a sign of a very stiff back.

My gaited horse will offer a pace when he has not been ridden for awhile. I do the bends above described, and I can hear audible cracks in his neck and back. Then he will gait as normally.

[ejoy]

thanks everyone for the ideas! I appreciate it! : )

[RainWeasley]

@ejoy

thanks everyone for the ideas! I appreciate it! : )

Any luck with the western saddle?

[ejoy]

RainWeasley, she did do a little better in the western saddle but as of the last few days we are having a lot of success riding engish as well. I think I am figuring out better how to cue her and overall we are just getting used to each other! : )

[jeano]

If it’s slow, comfortable to sit and the pace is “broken” or lateral paired hoofs not in exact sync then pony is ambling or performing a stepping pace or depending on timing a show walk. None of which are especially good for the horse’s back, but amblers were the saddle horse of choice for centuries.

Also, the Icelandic flying pace is ridden sitting in races so certainly doable.

Just as some horses have trots that are impossible to sit comfortably, some have a sittable trot. I suspect the same is true for pacers.

My own racking mare isn’t strongly gaited, but apparently can do everything but a foxtrot. Her trot, rarely offered, is quite comfortable. Her pace, also rarely offered, is sittable.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Then there’s the flat walk, dog walk, running walk, show walk, amble, saddle rack, speed rack, canter, gallop and wickywhack (mixed canter in front and trot behind or the reverse). All pretty easy on the rider.
”‹”‹”‹

[smoofox]

@Guilherme

A true pace is two beat, lateral gait. The trot two-beat motion is vertical. The pace two-beat motion is lateral, i.e. rolling left to right and back. You can post the trot to absorb the movement. I not seen anyone who could effectively ride the true pace.

You have some great advice in this thread, G - but maybe check out 5 gaited Icelandics - their riders do not seem to have any trouble riding the flying pace. I have had the pleasure of riding a couple of 5-gaited horses like this a few times… great fun!