TWH: "No Market for the breed. . ."

[katarine]

The TWHBEA is not the be all and end all of TWHs. The NWHA promotes a sound horse. No pads. No big lick. And the TWHBEA is not directly involved with the shows in the way the AQHA is, for example. Instead there’s an alphabet soup of organizations scattered all over, and each with their own definition of what’s allowed, shoe weights, etc- it’s a big hot mess.

I have a lovely TWHBEA registered gelding that I am kicking fanny with …in regular, open, dressage schooling shows. We’ve earned high point in 4 of our first 6 shows. We ride the NWHA versions of the USDF tests (and they are USDF approved tests). He’s been a lovely ambassador thus far for the breed, I get so many compliments from the judges, spectators, etc, as he’s quiet as a lamb warming up then poppy and pretty in the arena. I will attend the NWHA National show in Sept this yr as a spectator, but better learn if that organization seems to offer what we’d want on a ‘bigger show’ level: we’ll see. As flashy as he is, I hope-long term- we can find venues to let him show outsiders just how cool these horses can be. Even if they are bred to the teeth to be Big Lick horses, which he is.

I don’t know what the future holds for TWHBEA, but thus far what they are offering is not attractive to folks like me, maybe in time the tides will turn. But so long as they have fresh horses and peeps who like that spider walking desparate look, they’ll keep on keeping on.

[kittykeno]

Let me just say I do not know a great deal about TWHs but I can tell you there are a large number of these horses in the Los Angeles area. They are all ridden and shod naturally. I’ve never seen Big Lick whatever or soring any where. They make wonderful trail horses and have great minds. Big Lick wouldn’t last a minute over here, that’s for sure.

[LuvMyNSH]

[QUOTE=kittykeno;4975315]
Big Lick wouldn’t last a minute over here, that’s for sure.[/QUOTE]

Actually we do have padded trainers here in SoCal and a CA show circuit with ‘big lick’ classes.

[hundredacres]

So. CA was where I got my first glimpse of Big Lick horses…but it was back in the late 70’s, early 80’s.

[Rackonteur]

Gaited Dressage

I went to a local dressage show awhile back. There were a few gaited dressage entries, who were one of the main reasons I wanted to go to that particular show. I really enjoyed watching the gaited tests. But most of the other dressage riders took that time–when the SSH and TWH entries were in the arena–to stay away from the arena. Only about half a dozen of us stayed to watch the gaited rides.

I was very disappointed in this lack of interest-support-curiosity on the part of the other riders.

But I guess when a dressage person says that WTC horses are frightened by gaited horses, what can you expect? I have never seen a nongaited horse spooked by a gaited one. I wonder if the comment about the horses being frightened was just an excuse–conscious or not.

I’m with you Katarine, I’m interested in seeing TWH and other gaited horses doing dressage.

I’d also love to see the Big Lick movement disappear. It hasn’t been around all that long, as things go; maybe one day it will be gone, like docking and a lot of other onetime practices.

Meanwhile, what about the Saddlebreds who are kept up 24/7, with their tails folded up and wrapped and big heavy shoes on their feet even though they’re not in training for anything?

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=Rackonteur;4976124]
I went to a local dressage show awhile back. There were a few gaited dressage entries, who were one of the main reasons I wanted to go to that particular show. I really enjoyed watching the gaited tests. But most of the other dressage riders took that time–when the SSH and TWH entries were in the arena–to stay away from the arena. Only about half a dozen of us stayed to watch the gaited rides.

I was very disappointed in this lack of interest-support-curiosity on the part of the other riders.

But I guess when a dressage person says that WTC horses are frightened by gaited horses, what can you expect? I have never seen a nongaited horse spooked by a gaited one. I wonder if the comment about the horses being frightened was just an excuse–conscious or not.

I’m with you Katarine, I’m interested in seeing TWH and other gaited horses doing dressage.

I’d also love to see the Big Lick movement disappear. It hasn’t been around all that long, as things go; maybe one day it will be gone, like docking and a lot of other onetime practices.

Meanwhile, what about the Saddlebreds who are kept up 24/7, with their tails folded up and wrapped and big heavy shoes on their feet even though they’re not in training for anything?[/QUOTE]

Dressage (with a “D”) is walk/trot/canter. Dressage (with a “d”) can be anything. More than one person has proposed “gaited dressage” in the past including the Trophaeum Mundi program, the TWHBEA Versitility, the NWHA, etc.

The USDF has shown little or no interest in anything to do with gaited horses. Some judges even hold the completely inaccurate view that “soft gaits” are manufactured, impure gaits. “Manufactured” I understand (think the TWH Big Lick) but an “impure” gait? What’s that? One with salacious thoughts?

The “Achilles Heel” of “gaited dressage” is that to be completely fair a Dressage judge would have to know what the gait of the horse in front of them should be. With a trot this is easy. With the soft gaits it’s the Devil’s Own Business. To use the TWH as an example, there is no breed standard. The only gait standards that I know of are those promulgated by the various judging organizations. So upon what basis would a judge make a decision upon the quality of a running walk?

Now complicate the judge’s problem by making them understand the running walk, the marcha batida, the paso largo, the foxtrot, and a generic “single foot.” And what if somebody decides to trot their TWH or Saddlebred? Just how is this going to work?

I’m in favor of using a lot of the dressage training techniques to help gaited horses move in a more straight, forward, and square manner. But I’m not in favor of calling it “Dressage” 'cause it isn’t.

I’m also not at all happy with the widespread notion that “soft gaits” are the result of human action, lameness, etc. That’s just ignorance on the part of the Dressage community.

G.

[katarine]

My experience with local schooling shows and the USDF gaited tests has been hugely satisfying thus far. A real surprise.

Only one judge declined to judge me, but that’s her right and her point was valid: I don’t know what a running walk is supposed to look like, ergo I cannot tell you what might improve it. Her point was she felt unqualified to judge that particular gait. So another person judged us, and it was a fine experience.

The one show that initially refused us entry, reversed their opinion and had a decent turnout of riders (4 gaited horses at the first, 3 at the second). I believe it was a knee jerk no that the God Money overrode in time. Both judges at both shows were comfortable judging us and while they might not know an ideal running walk, they do know breaking rhythm or gait, hurried/uneven, etc. And they can see if you can ride a circle or land on X. That is unchanged from gait to gait. Can you maintain rhythm/tempo and ride a corner, yes or no. Then, for those scores- the gait doesn’t matter.

If someone decides to trot their ASB, then they ride a regular USDF test, that one is easy to answer.

As for people watching us or not watching our tests vs other’s rides…I can’t say that I saw the huddled masses shunning us, not at all. My horse is a flashy color with silly face markings and many people have gone out of their way to compliment him, or watch our ride and ask about the breed or the gaits afterward, approaching me or my trainer to say that is so cool, I didn’t know you could do this with a gaited horse! My experience has just been quite nice and welcoming thus far. I was quite blessed to get some impromptu feedback from a rather fancy dressage trainer who loved loved loved my horse’s free walk and medium walk, and the canter he’s developing. She didn’t have much to say about his soft gaits, but for the areas she did understand, she was most gracious about sharing suggestions and ideas for improving him.

So far, so good.

[leilatigress]

There is a TWH at the barn I ride at that does compete in normal Dressage up to 2nd level if I am not mistaken and Jumps at the local shows. I have no idea if he competes at the recognized shows but I do know he ribbons just as nicely as the non-gaited horses. There is an ASB in the barn as well but she is far past her competition days though she was a saddle seat champion in her prime. You can in essence do dressage with any breed of horse and collection can be taught to almost any horse. Dressage is just a series of movements you put your horse through, now how well said horse performs them is different.

[SCM1959]

I have not read this entire thread, but did notice someone posting that they have not registered their TWH because they do not want to give any money or support to the TWHBEA .

I have a TWH and I ride regularly with a friend who has had TWHs for years. He told me this morning that he gave up his membership with the TWHBEA years ago due to not wanting to support their agenda. He now has his horses registered with the NWHA. He says there was actually a lawsuit between the two organizations because the TWHBEA did not want the NWHA to be allowed to register horses. The NWHA won, and they are fully accredited and are allowed to register walking horses.

Just thought I would pass this along. My TWH is not registered, although I have the paperwork. I did not know there was another organization that could register him, either. I am going to send his paperwork in to the NWHA.

SCM1959

[JollyBadger]

[QUOTE=SCM1959;4993184]

Just thought I would pass this along. My TWH is not registered, although I have the paperwork. I did not know there was another organization that could register him, either. I am going to send his paperwork in to the NWHA.

SCM1959[/QUOTE]

My TWH is registered with both - he was already registered with the TWHBEA at the time I bought him, and a year or so ago I also registered him with the NWHA.

Of course, I haven’t done much of anything with either registry because I’m not into showing or competition, but the NWHA is a nice alternative.