[Ag-eq] Horse gaits

Sat Jan 25 01:39:40 UTC 2014

Hi Aleeha:

Do you know any other show terms for the gaits?

I'm most familiar with the Missouri Fox Trotters and their gaits.  I know very
little about what's required in shows, so would love to learn anything you
know.

Nella
Quoting Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com>:

> 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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> >> > >> > >>
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > >
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