[AG-EQ] question about trotting..

Sat Nov 25 19:06:51 UTC 2023

Tracy:

I know nothing about harness racing, other than I'm told the horse movements
look really flashy.  However those movements are not comfortable to ride.

Tennessee walkers and Fox Trotters were developed to be comfortable riding
horses, so the pace isn't desirable.  Some Tennessee Walkers and Fox
Trotters can still trot, which people do not want, especially if they are
show horses.  Cruiser, my horse has perfect movements; he is just
genetically hard wired to fox trot.

All of these breeds share ancestors, so I've seen Fox trotters that can do a
running walk and Tennessee Walkers that can do a fox trot.  Doing certain
exercises can help a horse improve its gaits.

Nella
-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ <ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via AG-EQ
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2023 12:55 PM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List' <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Cc: carcione at access.net
Subject: Re: [AG-EQ] question about trotting..

No, I love hearing about horses!
I know a bit about harness racing, which is what standard-breds do.  They
have trot races and pace races, so they use both kinds, trotters and pacers.
And, if a horse gets too excited and starts going in a different gait, his
driver has to slow him down and get him back into the right gait, which
usually takes him out of the running. 
The Meadowlands broadcast always includes the horses speeding up in the
rolling gate before they open the gate and set them off, or however they do
it, so you hear all the horses trotting before the race starts.  It sounds
very cool.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ <ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Nella Foster via AG-EQ
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2023 1:45 PM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List' <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Cc: jellybeanfarm at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [AG-EQ] question about trotting..

Tracy:

You're correct, a trot is a 2 beat diagonal gait.  There is a short moment
when all 4 feet are off the ground.  A fox trot is considered a broken
diagonal gait since the horse is always in contact with the ground.

Yes, there is a Tennessee Walking Horse.  There movements look like the walk
but at different speeds.  They can do the usual walk and a running walk,
which is just a very fast walk.  There stride tends to be quite long.  They
are usually tall, with long legs.  They can also do a canter.

The Missouri Fox Trotter tends to have a shorter stride; they can walk, fox
trot and canter.  

Not all gaited horses gait well, some of them trot and pace which isn't
desirable.  A pace is a 2 beat lateral gait.  I think it is what the sulky
racing horses do.  It is not comfortable to sit.  I think those are called
Standard Breds, but not sure.

Well, that is probably more information than you ever wanted.

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ <ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via AG-EQ
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2023 11:20 AM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List' <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Cc: carcione at access.net
Subject: Re: [AG-EQ] question about trotting..

I can't even picture that.  I thought trotting had to do with how they move
their legs in concert with each other, but I guess not. 
Isn't there another smooth-gaited horse called a Tennessee walker, or
something like that?
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ <ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Nella Foster via AG-EQ
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2023 11:22 AM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List' <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Cc: jellybeanfarm at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [AG-EQ] question about trotting..

Tracy: I have a Missouri Fox Trotter, but they do not do a classic trot.  He
does what is called a fox trot, which looks like he is walking with the
front legs and trotting with the back legs.  It is very comfortable.

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ <ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via AG-EQ
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2023 9:30 AM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List' <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Cc: carcione at access.net
Subject: Re: [AG-EQ] question about trotting..

Hi Nella.
I didn't know this list still existed, either!

Don't or didn't you have a kind of horse bred for a smooth trot?  A Misouri
something-or-other?  Sounded very nice when you described it.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ <ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Nella Foster via AG-EQ
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2023 9:57 AM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List' <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Cc: jellybeanfarm at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [AG-EQ] question about trotting..

Madison:

I didn't even know this list was still operating.

I don't think the height of the horse has anything to do with how smooth the
trot feels.  I've ridden short horses that had very nice trots and some that
were very rough.  The same thing goes with tall horses.

Do you know the breed of the horse, I think that can make a difference.  The
horses that I've ridden that were trained for western pleasure were very
smooth and they were quarter horses.  I've ridden a couple of thoroughbreds
and one was smoother than the other.

Maybe you could build confidence by riding a horse that you know you can
stop quickly.  Try trotting just a few steps at a time and slowly build up
your confidence.  Practice transitioning between the walk and trot; if you
can control the speed you will have less fear.

Good luck.

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ <ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Madison Martin via AG-EQ
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2023 10:38 PM
To: ag-eq at nfbnet.org
Cc: Madison Martin <madison.martin2000 at outlook.com>
Subject: [AG-EQ] question about trotting..

Hi all,
I've been riding for 11-12 years but trotting still really scares me (I
think it stems from when I fell off of the first pony I ever took lessons on
because he took off and I couldn't get him to halt and whenever there's an
increase in speed I expect something bad to happen even when my instructor
is holding the horse). I've mostly ridden horses that were pretty much
ponies or actual ponies; one taller horse I rode I only rode twice because
he developed some nerve issue and the other taller one I rode was so
stubborn that I don't even remember what her trot felt like because I was so
focused on keeping her going that I don't remember what it felt like. So do
taller horses have a smoother trot or do the words trot and smooth just not
go together? If taller horses are smoother then do you think  riding a
taller horse might help me get over my fear? My instructor and I have talked
about me doing dressage but in order to do that I'd have to get over my fear
of trotting. Please be 100% honest  I really hope you do as I look forward
to reading what anyone has to say. 
Madison
Hi,
I know we don't know each other but because you're an English coach I want
your thoughts on something. I'm totally blind and I've been riding for 11-12
years but trotting still really scares me (I think it stems from when I fell
off of the first pony I ever took lessons on because he took off and I
couldn't get him to halt and whenever there's an increase in speed I expect
something bad to happen even when my instructor is holding the horse). I've
mostly ridden horses that were pretty much ponies or actual ponies; one
taller horse I rode I only rode twice because he developed some nerve issue
and the other taller one I rode was so stubborn that I don't even remember
what her trot felt like because I was so focused on keeping her going that I
don't remember what it felt like. So do taller horses have a smoother trot
or do the words trot and smooth just not go together? If taller horses are
smoother then do you think  riding a taller horse might help me get over my
fear? My instructor and I have talked about me doing dressage but in order
to do that I'd have to get over my fear of trotting.
Please be 100% honest.  I look forward to reading what you have to say. 
Madison 

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