[QUOTE=oliverreed;7642955]
No. Paso Finos are descended from horses brought to the “New World” from Spain. Originally a combination of Arab, Barb, and Jennet. Originally found in Puerto Rico and Columbia. There is a difference between a PPR (Pure Puerto Rican) and Columbian Paso Fino. And then there is the Peruvian Paso, a different (but similar) breed.[/QUOTE]
Well then they are related because the Marchadors are also descended from horses brought to Brazil from Spain…
[QUOTE=La Gringa;7643169]
Well then they are related because the Marchadors are also descended from horses brought to Brazil from Spain…[/QUOTE]
This would be technically correct. They share a lot of common ancestry but differ in that they have systematically selected over at least a couple of centuries for different characteristics.
G.
And the words ‘Heritage’ and ‘McCurdy’ mean very little- if not nothing- in terms of ‘it will gait’. If someone started them too fast or threw them away and didn’t help them find their balance and rhythm…I bet they’ll step pace.it’s easier 
these TWHs are very maleable- go too fast and my TWH, Chip, will rack. Let him pick and he’ll step pace. Ask him to work and he’ll do a nice flat walk and a running walk. He can’t read, he doesn’t know what the book says he’s supposed to do.
I tried very hard to buy a McCurdy- many did nothing but step pace. I did find one, but she was an idiot but she’d walk a hole in the ground.
Here is a son of Out On Parole, who is a WGC padded horse.
http://youtu.be/3awYcWUAjss
That is Anita Howe up. What may look handsy is her helping this horse learn to be accountable for his tempo and rhythm. Get in, tweak, and get out. NICE horse.
[QUOTE=The Crone of Cottonmouth County;7642960]
Racking quarter horses[/QUOTE]
There are, or at least used to be, gaited quarter horses. We had one when I was a kid. It was a natural gait, she didn’t trot at all. I have heard of others, but obviously they aren’t common. I always figured there was some gaited remount stallion someplace in her pedigree, but I know bupkis about gaited horses, gaited breeds, or related genetics.
I have some friends who own horses, mules, and gaited mules. They do all their trail riding with the gaited mules.
As you may realize by now, there are all kinds of gaited, so be sure you try yourself what you are considering, because while one may seem smooth to some, the same others consider rougher.
Some gaited horses may be smooth, but they are so animated you feel worn out from all that, more than from a horse moving smoothly in a trot.
Best horse I ever had was a little Arab that we picked up from a dealer in the Northeast for $600. She was the right size (small), a pretty mover, neck reined and had a butter soft mouth in a snaffle. She was 6 and had come off of a ranch out west somewhere. We got her for a trail program that kind of fizzled. So I started riding her. She was bombproof on the trail except for trains. I could stand on her back and post no hunting signs. Could hop on after a month of lazing about and ride her bareback in a halter over very steep terrain through the woods and deep snow. Combine that with her peppy walk, her alert demeanor and general good naturedness and she was perfect. She even let me fool around with polo on her. Only Arab I ever had, but gosh, if she’s any example, they are awesome. So, I agree with the poster a ways back that suggested go for bombproof first. Bombproof because of terrific training and exposure, not age or infirmity. One of those blue roans from the WYO annual ranch sale maybe that’ll lope along for hours on a loose rein? They might even have a little Arab hanging around.
I have a spinal implant so riding trotting horses is not an option anymore. If I didn’t have a Paso, I would be done. She’s been a lifesaver.
Then, there are many western pleasure bred horses that move oddly slow and are extremely smooth, so smooth some of them you don’t even know they are moving.
I know, all make fun of those creeping along in a show wp class, but smooth and quiet they are.
That is why so many older riders end up in western pleasure.
The right wp horse is about as soft a ride and safe as you can have, short of a wooden rocking horse.
That would also be a possible option for those that need an extremely smooth horse and don’t want to go gaited for that.
I’ve divised a smooth horse test: Can you carry your box wine, pour it into a glass and drink it without spilling while traveling faster than a walk?
We used to have champagne classes at Paso shows. I miss those days.
[QUOTE=Bluey;7643536]
Then, there are many western pleasure bred horses that move oddly slow and are extremely smooth, so smooth some of them you don’t even know they are moving.
I know, all make fun of those creeping along in a show wp class, but smooth and quiet they are.
That is why so many older riders end up in western pleasure.
The right wp horse is about as soft a ride and safe as you can have, short of a wooden rocking horse.
That would also be a possible option for those that need an extremely smooth horse and don’t want to go gaited for that.[/QUOTE]
I know, but so many of’em look like their feet hurt. Their teeny tiny little feet. Then again, I’ve never sat that four-beat lope; it certainly LOOKS smooth. If somewhat deformed.
[QUOTE=The Crone of Cottonmouth County;7643597]
I know, but so many of’em look like their feet hurt. Their teeny tiny little feet. Then again, I’ve never sat that four-beat lope; it certainly LOOKS smooth. If somewhat deformed.[/QUOTE]
There are comfy ones with ‘normal feet,’ just look to ranch markets instead of show markets. I owned a mare for 29 of her 31 years that was so danged smooth at the trot you really had to work hard at posting it when you got her in a long trot.
[QUOTE=The Crone of Cottonmouth County;7642960]
Wow, such a plethora of gaited wisdom. Standardbreds as riding horses? Gaited Arabians? What tha! I grew up with Arabians and never knew this could happen. We had a high-steppin’ ex-park horse broodmare who could really let’er rip, but twarn’t nothin but a stylized trot. Granted, I took 35 years off in the middle there, but still. What’s next? Racking quarter horses?
If anyone has any suggestions as to how I might go about finding an “experienced gaited aficionado” in Central Texas, lay it on me. Also, reading material. I am like unto an empty sponge with a thirst for gaited knowledge.[/QUOTE]
Reading material- Easy Gaited Horses by Lee Ziegler is good. A lot of gaited folks prefer good dressage basics as our foundation. Reading this makes me want to bring home Walker #2!! Will have to wait til next year though!
As a woman of a certain age, I would just say that falling off feels the same regardless of breed. Breed is irrelevant to the falling-off process.
In terms of riding, vs. falling off (making no claims about which of these happens more often, and definition of riding is best left vague here), and in terms of just plain loving the hairy slobbering pooping beasts, I’m breed-loyal. Can’t imagine horse ownership unless it’s with some sweet, magical, smart little Arab (mine is a Crabbet, too).
But of course, so many do lose their minds with age, and go…go…I can barely say it… to another breed. You would hardly be alone.
I’d say specifically find that super well broke comfy Arabian sofa and go that route
I love riding all breeds and have ridden lots of gaited horses, but there’s just something about looking at the face of my Arabs talking to me that makes my heart melt.
Dear Crone,
I ask myself similar questions all the time. I have a lovely, forward, big moving appendix QH who gives me the feeling that I love under saddle and also makes me ache and the sweet bombproof foundation QH who is super comfy but a little …boring.
I am 55 and have significant orthopedic issues. For me, it’s not about bombproof so much as it is about easy on the back, knees and ankles while still being forward and covering ground.
So my next horse will probably be a TWH. Mr. McGurk grew up riding TWHs and Saddlebreds, not as show horses but as pleasure and working horses; he is baffled that anyone would want to ride a horse that trots. He would ride with me if we had TWHs. They are popular in my part of the world for long distance rides and field trailing dogs.
My very limited experience with this is that there are really good ones and a lot of trashy ones. The good ones are broke, broke, broke and gait on their own with no influence from the rider. If you’re trying one out and the seller is giving you a lot of instruction on how to get it to gait, smile, say thank you and keep looking. Prices for a nice, well broke TWH to trail ride are actually pretty reasonable, no reason to pay show hunter prices for one. Also, while I’m sure there’s a crazy or aggressive one somewhere, all the Walkers I’ve known have had incredibly sweet dispositions.
I’m 61 and have two home-bred Arabian geldings that I ride and occasionally show – one is 14 and the other is 10. With any luck, I won’t have to figure out whether I need to switch breeds at some point.
That said … IF I were looking for a gaited horse, I’d look at TWHs. I live in MFT country and have seen a LOT of them and liked very few. They’re either HOT and sensitive or deadheads and not very smart. No in between. The walkers I’ve seen just seem to be more all-around horses and tend to have better dispositions.
mp:
Maybe you just met the wrong MFTs?
Friends who horsecamp (2week+ trips) have one who is now 15yo.
He is the Grandkid Horse, smooth as silk to ride & a sweetheart of a horse.
IIRC they also have another (not quite sure I’m right on the breed) who does resemble your description.
He is exclusively my friend’s horse & over the years she has had some CTJ meetings, but still trusts him on trails.
[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;7644060]
mp:
Maybe you just met the wrong MFTs?
Friends who horsecamp (2week+ trips) have one who is now 15yo.
He is the Grandkid Horse, smooth as silk to ride & a sweetheart of a horse.
IIRC they also have another (not quite sure I’m right on the breed) who does resemble your description.
He is exclusively my friend’s horse & over the years she has had some CTJ meetings, but still trusts him on trails.[/QUOTE]
The first horse you describe would be like the one a friend had. Sweet sweet mare and great on a trail. Just a nice horse.
But the other MFTs I’ve been around (at this point, probably around 20 or so) I just did not like. Could be the breeding. Could be the training. Could be the owners. I don’t know. Just not just cuppa tea.
Thanks so much for all the responses in this thread, it has all been very illuminating. Yet I’m so torn! I can almost see myself biffing along on a golden, flowy Tennessee walker, yet the call of the Crabbet is still strong within me … clearly I can’t make a swift decision here. Maybe I will just take my neighbor’s free mule and call it a day.
[QUOTE=The Crone of Cottonmouth County;7644077]
Thanks so much for all the responses in this thread, it has all been very illuminating. Yet I’m so torn! I can almost see myself biffing along on a golden, flowy Tennessee walker, yet the call of the Crabbet is still strong within me … clearly I can’t make a swift decision here. Maybe I will just take my neighbor’s free mule and call it a day.[/QUOTE]
If you keep your eyes and ears open, some times, the right horse just finds you and it may not be at all what you were thinking you wanted.
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