Time For Another Horse?

[IdahoRider]

I have had my gelding for about three years now and I really like him. However, as I move into middle age I am dealing with some significant comfort issues. I have severe back problems and riding my Arab is down right painful, which results in me not riding a whole lot. I love the trail, but am just not getting out and riding.
I have been considering switching to a Tennessee Walking Horse, if I can get enough rides in on one to determine that riding a gaited horse would actually be more comfortable (both short term and long term). There aren't that many TWH available in my area, so this is not something that I can do on a whim.
If I were to do this, though, I would be faced with what to do with my current horse. I can't afford to keep two, and it would bother me to see a young, healthy horse just standing around and not being used.
I don't think I would want to sell him. I was thinking about maybe finding someone to do a free lease on him. He is an 11 year old Arab, well bred and easy to live with. He is sound and has always had great care. He has almost 400 AERC miles, too. He has always finished and has no pulls on his record. Maybe a LD home would be interested in him.
I feel so stuck. I want to ride more, and enjoy myself. I want to be as comfortable as possible. As anyone else been faced with a situation like this? How did you resolve it?
Sheilah

[CosMonster]

You may have already done this, but before you do anything drastic maybe experiment with different types and fits of saddles. I knew a woman who had severe back pain from a car accident many years ago, and she found tremendous relief switching saddles (I think she switched from a basic dressage saddle to some type of western endurance saddle, but I can't remember entirely). If you ask around you can also probably find a physical therapist or the like who is also a horse person, and they can probably help you evaluate the situation and make a really informed decision.

If you really do need a gaited horse, IMO there is nothing wrong with buying one and selling or free-leasing your current horse. You shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to ride more, and you shouldn't be having to endure terrible pain to do it.

[Guilherme]

The answer is simple. If your current horse is hurting you then sell it and buy something that's comfortable.

A Walker might do just fine, but so would any number of other horses with a lateral gait.

Look around for places that rent Walkers (or something else) for trail rides, etc. Do a "mini-vacation" and experience the ride. If it works for you, then find a good horse. In the Southeast today you can expect to pay about $1500-$2500 for a good Walker with decent training. Below this level you'll likely be buying somebody elses problems and if you have physical issues you probably don't want that. You can spend more, and get more, but from your post I don't think you need to.

That price range also would likely hold for a Racking horse, Mountain horse, or half-breeds of such blook lines.

You own your horse, you're not married to it; it's not your child.

Good luck in making your decision.

G.

[J.R.]

Get a Missourri Fox Trotter!!!! Then get a new saddle with a temper-pedic seat!!!

Good Luck!

[IdahoRider]

LOL, that is so true! I am not married to my horse, although sometimes it seems he gets more attention then my actual husband does!
I broke my back almost 13 years ago and never did get the feeling back in my butt or down the back of my legs. When I first started riding again 10 years ago I was just thrilled to be back in the saddle. Now, years later, I am more concerned with my comfort.
We'll see how it goes. Gaited horses are not very common here, so it's going to take some effort and time on my part to even find an appropriate horse for sale. I did find a gaited horse trainer about an hour from here and she is open to giving me lessons on a TWH in order to give me an idea of any improvements in my comfort level.
And a friend I haven't seen in a while said she would be interested in competing my Arab in endurance rides. Maybe she would be interested in taking him on as a free lease. I trust her to continue to care for him just as well as I do.
Sheilah

[katarine]

There's someone near Bozeman that hastheir sale horses on youtube, that sells a lot of TWHs. Check them out. Not all walkers are created equal ;)

[Huntertwo]

If you feel as though you are losing valuable riding time, and can't afford to keep 2, then by all means look into selling your horse. He sounds like a perfect match for a CTR.

I've sold 3 horses that just were not cut out for the trails. Period. I gave them almost a year to adjust and if they didn't, they moved on. I board and do not have the luxury/money to keep 2 horses.
They were sold to me as *Trail horses*.... but :no: they were afraid of they're own shadows. It took me a long long time to find the right pony, but in the end it was worth it.

There are lots of gaited breeds out there, I'd try several before committing to a TWH.

[jeano]

Fox Trotters might be a little more common than Walkers way out west. Just wanted to put me oar in, since I am living in the land of mild winters and Cheap Gaited Horses. My racking mare, very smooth, cost me 1300, she was 7, had "issues" but is now a very safe and agreeable trail horse, barefoot, multi gaited, and very very smooth. However, for some reason, she often causes me some back discomfort, more so than my TNW gelding. He trots but is still very comfortable to ride and is extremely well trained, very responsive, a true gentleman. Also barefoot, and like the mare a very easy keeper. He will go miles and miles on the roads, has definite endurance potential, and is just as sweet a little guy as one could wish. I bought him from a clueless woman who wanted a parade horse (ie, a packer, not an energetic lets go someplace NOW kinda horse) and let me have him for what she gave for him....750.00 Makes no sense at all but I'm not complaining!

[Pocket Pony]

I'm in a similar situation so I'm interested to see what you do! My best trail horse, Miles, causes me a lot of back pain. I've tried a lot of different saddles and now ride in a Freeform which has been the best of all. But still, my back hurts. I have another horse who I also ride on trails and do horse trials with, so I don't need another one, but I wonder about what to do with Miles. I can't imagine selling him and right now he's just hanging out in my front pasture with his shoes pulled for the winter. Sigh.

[blazn]

Where in Idaho are you? I have two TWHs, I trail ride them in the mountains north of Boise, and I would be happy to let you try them. I loff them.

[IdahoRider]

blazn, I am right outside of Boise. In Eagle. How did you come to ride gaited horses? There aren't that many in this area, that's for sure.
Sheilah

[blazn]

As to how I got started riding gaited horses, it's a long story but you can see the short version in the thread in Off Course: "Now I've Heard It All...".

I'm in McCall, but the TWHs will soon be down in the tropics - just east of Boise. If you like we could get together this winter and you could do a test ride. I'll PM you with my contact info.

We got our TWHs in Gooding, Idaho. They are absolutely the sweetest, kindest, most generous and forgiving horses I have ever been around. And they were raised in a herd with other horses their own age, running all over a giant pasture with rocks, ditches, etc so they are also social and sure footed. And did I mention healthy (knocking on wood)? And their good feet?

Before I had the TWHs my horse experience had been limited to TBs. Someday I hope to have another TB but in the meantime I'm enjoying the heck out of these gaited love muffins.

[IdahoRider]

blazn, absolutely! Let's get together once you are closer to Boise. I am so excited by the thought that I may be on track to enjoy trail riding again. I am still conflicted about my Arab, but if I can find the right free lease for him I would rest much easier. I will not sell him.
Sheilah

[Romantic Rider]

Idahorider, I just popped on to say don't let anyone pressure you into selling your horse if you don't want to. I have two horses, a big Anglo-Arab mare, my endurance horse and a good one at that. Then I have a little Arab mare that I bought and trained myself, and turned from the ugliest, scrawniest thing you can imagine, into a gorgeous little horse that I get compliments on wherever I take her. She's not half the endurance horse the other is. But I wouldn't sell her for anything in the world. If she was injured and I could never ride her again, well, she'd be a pasture ornament. So I know there are just some horses you can't sell, they become friends. And you wouldn't sell a friend. I hope you find a comfortable ride, and a good situation for your Arab. Also, I don't know if you would consider it, but I swear a Paso Fino is the smoothest horse on earth.

[IdahoRider]

RomanticRider, I know what you mean. My Arab gelding is mine for life. I would never sell him. However, I might let him go on a free lease to someone who would use him for LD rides, or CTR. That way he would get some use, which he loves, and I would always have the ability to totally monitor his life style when with another rider.
He might be uncomfortable for me to ride for more than 20 minutes, but I really love this horse.
Sheilah