[Ag-eq] Horse gaits

[Aleeha Dudley]

I think, if I am remembering right from my days of working with a
trainer, a hand gallop is a hunt seat gait, an extension of the canter
in the show ring.

On 1/24/14, nfoster at extremezone.com <nfoster at extremezone.com> wrote:
> Jewel:
>
> Most likely the cow ponies would have only been able to do walk, trot and
> canter.  They probably would have called the canter a lope or gallop.
>
> I have read some histories about the west and ranch life.  Most ranchers let
> the
> horses run loose on the range and they were rounded up when needed.  I have
> read
> that these horses were often half wild and could provide some pretty
> exciting
> rides!
>
> They might have grown some hay, but like you I've never seen any references
> to
> it.  I would think that importing grain would have been difficult and
> costly.
> I suspect the horses were tough enough to make it on what they could find
> on
> the range.  They probably weren't as fat and shiny as horses of today.
>
> I think most western stories glorify the life style.  They always make
> cowboys
> out to be romantic figures, when in reality they were drifters with little
> more
> than a horse and saddle.
>
> You bring up some good topics.
>
> Nella
> Quoting Jewel <jewelblanch at kinect.co.nz>:
>
>> >From what one reads in Western literature, cow ponies only had 2 paces:
>> lope/canter  and gallop.
>> Having, cunningly, brought in "cow ponies" I can ask a question re feeding
>> of
>> same:  a question that
>> has never been referred to in any Western I have read.
>>  The ponies that weren't, actually, required at the moment for range work
>> lived in corrals/ramudas,
>> so they must have been handfed on hay and grain, but one never reads of
>> fodder crops being grown and
>> harvested on the ranches;  were they, or was all fodder imported from the
>> eastern states?
>> When the cowboys were out on the range rounding up their own cattle and
>> russling those that weren't,
>> their horses were working very hard so just the little bit of grazing
>> they
>> were able to snatch would
>> not have provided sufficient energy, so how were they fed?  Apart from
>> its
>> rider, the pony, and that
>> was, generally,  just what they were, quite small, rarely taller than 14
>> 2
>> hands, the horse was
>> packing the obligatory, rifle, slicker, bed roll, cowboy's breakfast
>> bacon
>> and beans, frying pan,
>> coffee and pot, etc etc, so how could the little thing, even though it was
>> as
>> tough as boot leather
>> carry additional hay and grain?
>> Enquiring minds want to know!
>>
>>         Jewel--------------------------------------------------
>> From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 4:29 AM
>> To: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>; "Agricultural and Equestrean
>> Division List"
>> <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Horse gaits
>>
>>
>> Tracy:
>>
>> I may be wrong about this , but I think running and galloping are the
>> same
>> thing.  Like humans horses can run or gallop at different speeds.  I've
>> often
>> heard the slower galloped refered to as a collected canter.  A collected
>> canter
>> is what you want in a show ring; it looks nice.  You want speed, not
>> pretty
>> with
>> a race horse.
>>
>> The trot can be done at different speeds too.  A slower trot is desirable
>> in
>> the
>> western pleasure shows.  The slower trots tend to be more comfortable for
>> the
>> rider.  Most horses can just do the walk, the trot and the gallop.
>> Gaited
>> horses such as the Tennessee Walkers and Missouri Fox Trotters have been
>> bred
>> to produce other gaits such as the fox trot and the running walk.  As I
>> said
>> before most of it is genetics, just because a TWH is registered doesn't
>> mean
>> he
>> can do the gaits.  I used to own a TWH who couldn't do a running walk.
>> He
>> could
>> do a flat walk, a terrible trot and a rough canter.
>>
>>
>> There are other gaited breeds such as the Paso Finos, the Peruvian Paso
>> and
>> the
>> Icelandics.  I've never ridden these breeds, so don't know what they feel
>> like.
>>  They are suppose to be very smooth.  I've often heard that the Peruvian
>> Paso
>> is
>> the smoothest of all the gaited breeds.
>>
>>   The enthusiasts of each breed say that their breed is the smoothest and
>> the
>> most even tempered.  I'm partial to fox trotters, but my neighbor is
>> convinced
>> that the walkers are better.  I guess it's just a matter of opinion.
>> Over
>> the
>> years I've learned that horse people are very opinionated!
>>
>> Nella
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Quoting Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>:
>>
>> > A thoroughbred can finish a race "at a gallop", which seems to mean
>> > that
>> > he's so far ahead that he's just loping along.  If that's a gallop, what
>> > is
>> > he doing when he's really running?
>> > I'm learning quite a bit from this discussion of horse gaits.
>> > Tracy
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Jewel" <jewelblanch at kinect.co.nz>
>> > To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 11:09 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Welcome
>> >
>> >
>> > > Nella!  the *foxtrot does sound rather like the gait  that I said
>> Sparkle,
>> > > the pacer and Boss, the
>> > > Thoroughbred steeplechaser were able to produce!
>> > > I stand to be corrected, but I don't think that carriage horses ever
>> > > did
>> > > the unilateral pace as
>> > > racing pacers do.  I think that the gait was developed specifically
>> > > for
>> > > racing.
>> > > Most pacers have to be hobbled to keep them from going into a
>> > > diagonal
>> > > trot, but there is, the
>> > > occasional, * free-legged pacer who does not require hobbles.
>> > > One of the best free-legged pacers that I can remember was Rob allan,
>> > > and
>> > > he was a sensation, and
>> > > then there was Scotch Tarr, a trotter, but he was so fast that he was
>> > > raced against pacers and,
>> > > often, left them gasping in the  rear.
>> > > and while on the subject of gaits, what in cowboy and western stories
>> > > is
>> a
>> > > "dead run"?  Is it just a
>> > > gallop?
>> > >
>> > >        Jewel
>> > > --------------------------------------------------
>> > > From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
>> > > Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 4:48 PM
>> > > To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>> > > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Welcome
>> > >
>> > > Hi Jewel:
>> > >
>> > > I'll try and explain the fox trot; I still can't really get a mental
>> > > picture of
>> > > it!
>> > >
>> > > In a correct fox trot it looks as if the horses hind legs are
>> > > trotting
>> > > while the
>> > > front legs are doing an extended walk.  Cruiser's fox trot is
>> > > extremely
>> > > smooth;
>> > > I'm told that he has a text book fox trot.  It feels as if you are
>> > > gliding; the
>> > > horses back should stay quite level while in the fox trot.
>> > >
>> > > Cruiser can do a slow walk, which we refer to as the dog walk.  He can
>> > > do
>> > > a flat
>> > > walk, which is an extended walk; it was developed to cover more
>> > > ground.
>> > > He can
>> > > do a fox trot, which I've already described.  He also has a beautiful
>> > > rocking
>> > > horse canter, which is also very smooth.
>> > >
>> > > People with gaited horses do not want them to do the traditional
>> > > trot.
>> > > The
>> > > ability to gait well is a combination of genetics, training and the
>> riders
>> > > ability.  Cruiser is genetically hard wired to gait; I can't take any
>> > > of
>> > > the
>> > > credit.  To the best of my knowledge he has never done a traditional
>> trot.
>> > >
>> > > Most people with gaited horses do not want them to pace either.  A
>> > > pace
>> is
>> > > a 2
>> > > beat lateral movement and can be quite jarring.  Although, I'm told
>> > > that
>> > > it is
>> > > comfortable on some horses.  I believe the pace was developed for
>> carriage
>> > > horses.
>> > >
>> > > I used to ride a friends Tennessee Walker who would sometimes pace.
>> > > I
>> > > found it
>> > > to be very uncomfortable.  He had a very nice flat walk and a nice
>> running
>> > > walk.  A running walk is basically the same as a flat walk, just
>> > > faster.
>> > > This
>> > > particular horse had to have a lot of training before he gaited well.
>> > > If
>> > > I
>> > > ever got sloppy with my riding he would start pacing.  I would then
>> > > have
>> > > to
>> > > adjust my seat and reins to get him to gait again.
>> > >
>> > > Sometimes when I get sloppy with Cruiser his fox trot won't be quite
>> > > as
>> > > smooth.
>> > > As I said before he has never trotted and I don't think he's ever
>> > > paced
>> > > either.
>> > >
>> > > There is so much to know about gaited horses and I'm still learning
>> > > all
>> > > the
>> > > time.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Quoting Jewel <jewelblanch at kinect.co.nz>:
>> > >
>> > >> I read a book many years ago, about American show horses, called
>> > >> "Riding
>> > >> High" and it spoke of the
>> > >> 5-gaited American horse and explained the action of the foxtrot, but
>> > >> it
>> > >> was
>> > >> so long ago that I have
>> > >> forgotten.
>> > >> I think that it said the forelegs were in a trot while the hindlegs
>> > >> were
>> > >> in a
>> > >> canter;  I just could
>> > >> not picture  it,:  after all:  just how many different gaits can you
>> > >> get
>> > >> out
>> > >> of 4 legs?
>> > >> I do not move in horse circles:  not actual ones you understand:
>> > >> any
>> > >> more,
>> > >> and, no doubt, some of
>> > >> our Kiwi western riders may teach the foxtrot, but, Nella, could you
>> draw
>> > >> a
>> > >> verbal picture of the
>> > >> gait?.
>> > >> One awful practice that was common in those days amongst those who
>> showed
>> > >> horses was to break the
>> > >> dock and  strap it upright, so that when the fracture knit that was
>> > >> its
>> > >> permanent position!
>> > >> I hope that practice has been outlawed, but in a country where dog's
>> ears
>> > >> are
>> > >> cropped and made to be
>> > >> pricked when dropped ears is the norm for the breed, who knows?
>> > >> Twice in my riding life, I had horses who could do a fantastic gait.
>> like
>> > >> a
>> > >> very slow trot that I
>> > >> could sit to without the merest suggestion of a bump, and without
>> > >> having
>> > >> to
>> > >> keep my knees clamped to
>> > >> the horse's sides.
>> > >>   one was a pacer and the other was Boss, the thoroughbred that I
>> > >> wrote
>> > >> of in
>> > >> a post of a couple of
>> > >> months back.
>> > >>
>> > >> I never thought of asking what the configuration of the horse's legs
>> > >> was
>> > >> when
>> > >> it was doing this
>> > >> trot?  As one of the horses was a pacer, could it have been a pace?
>> > >> but
>> > >> it
>> > >> would have been
>> > >> surprising if the thoroughbred could do it without hobbles, but he
>> could!
>> > >> It
>> > >> was the smoothest and
>> > >> most relaxing gait/pace  to ride to!
>> > >>
>> > >>         Jewel
>> > >> --------------------------------------------------
>> > >> From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
>> > >> Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 2:13 PM
>> > >> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>> > >> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Welcome
>> > >>
>> > >> Hi Jody:
>> > >>
>> > >> it sounds as if Florida is much cooler than Arizona.
>> > >>
>> > >> I'm hoping we will get a couple of freezes so the insect population
>> won't
>> > >> be
>> > >> so
>> > >> bad this summer.
>> > >>
>> > >> How are your young horses and what have you been doing with them?
>> > >>
>> > >> Have you been riding the older horse any?
>> > >>
>> > >> I've been getting some great rides in.  Cruiser and I seem to be a
>> better
>> > >> team
>> > >> each time I ride.  I've been working on his transission from fox trot
>> > >> to
>> > >> canter.  I'm also working with him on keeping a consistant speed in
>> > >> both
>> > >> the
>> > >> fox trot and canter.  I've also been trying to get him to extend his
>> flat
>> > >> walk,
>> > >> but he tends to go into the fox trot instead of lengthebing his
>> > >> stride.
>> > >> I
>> > >> may
>> > >> have to get a trainer to help me with that one.
>> > >>
>> > >> Please write and update us on the horses.
>> > >>
>> > >> Nella
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> Quoting Jody W Ianuzzi <jody at thewhitehats.com>:
>> > >>
>> > >> > Welcome to the new members to the list.I am Jody with husband Tom
>> > >> > and
>> > >> > owner
>> > >> > trained guide dog Walker
>> > >> >
>> > >> > We live on a 5 acre farm in central Florida with three horses and
>> three
>> > >> > chickens.  We have a large garden which is a source of frustration
>> with
>> > >> > weather, rabbits and horses who are determined that everything I
>> > >> > grow
>> > >> > never
>> > >> > reaches the table.  This is the usual beginning of our growing
>> > >> > season
>> > >> > but
>> > >> > northern temperatures have everything on hold.  We actually take
>> > >> > the
>> > >> > summer
>> > >> > off for growing because it is too hot.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > We used to live in New Hampshire and I am more familiar with
>> > >> > northing
>> > >> growing
>> > >> > methods so growing a garden here is a new learning experience.  We
>> have
>> > >> > a
>> > >> > great Cooperative Extension and they are very helpful.  We just
>> > >> > attended a
>> > >> > seminar on Florida gardening which was great.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Stay warm everyone except Jewel who is in the middle of summer in
>> > >> > New
>> > >> > Zealand.  How is your garden this summer Jewel?
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >> > JODY
>> > >> >
>> > >> > "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!" Thomas Jefferson
>> > >> >
>> > >> > On Jan 23, 2014, at 10:21 AM, nfoster at extremezone.com wrote:
>> > >> >
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > > Tracy:
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > > It is suppose to be 75 here today.
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > > Yesterday reached 77.
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > > We are having an unusually warm winter even for Phoenix.
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > > Nella
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > > Quoting Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>:
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > >> Well Nella and Jody, the thermometer said 5.5 degrees when I got
>> > >> > >> up
>> > >> > >> this
>> > >> > >> morning. Brrr!  Yesterday when I went to the gym, I made my
>> > >> > >> Seeing
>> > >> > >> Eye
>> > >> dog
>> > >> > >> wear his sweater and boots.  He wasn't too happy about it, but
>> > >> > >> he
>> > >> > >> was
>> > >> warm
>> > >> > >> and dry.
>> > >> > >> I really wish I'd done more to protect my tender perennials.
>> > >> > >> It
>> > >> > >> doesn't
>> > >> > >> usually stay cold for long here, but this winter has been
>> > >> > >> really
>> > >> > >> nippy.
>> > >> > >> Tracy
>> > >> > >>
>> > >> > >>
>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________
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>> > >> > >
>> > >> > >
>> > >> > >
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