Restarting my youngster

[BaileyTW]

OK, so I bought a Tennessee Walking Horse that has a BEAUTIFUL trot... out in the pasture or when he is gleefully trotting across the field after leaving me in a briar patch. I have been unable to get him to trot under saddle yet. I have talked to a number of walking horse owners that say they have trained their walkers to trot in order to do dressage tests in 3 day events, or just plain do dressage, or for endurance riding, whatever their motivation.

Previous to me getting him (he was my latest "Awww you poor thing, let me get you out of this dump!" buy) he was trained to ride in a hollow high-headed frame. He is 5 years old (will be 6 in October) and was broken this way and trained like this. I've been working with him to keep his head down and have worked him from a hard pace down into an intermediate gait. I've also been working to get him down into a snaffle bit, and he's been doing very well lately with that. He's calming down and seems to be thinking about rounding his back a little more, but as soon as I ask for more than a walk, he will insist on carrying his head high and hollowing.

Anyways, in talking to other walking horse people, it seems the best way for him to get him trotting under saddle is to get him to round his back. I have had trotting poles suggested, but he thinks they are for him to play a game of "kick the pole" with. He actually seems to TRY and knock them around. :rolleyes:

I have been doing half halts with him and getting him to stretch down into the bit, but again, this seems to only work for him at a walk. at a faster gait, half halt will sometimes bring him down from a hard pace to a running walk or stepping pace, but not anything more than that yet. He was probably never allowed to trot, since it seems gaited people breeding for gait will go for a pacey horse first. But since he will trot at liberty, I know he can, its just like cantering him, I think, he just needs to learn he is allowed to do it.

Does anyone here have any other suggestions on getting him to round up, and keep his back round as we move up into more speed?

[Kathy Johnson]

Trotting is not completely related to how round the horse is or where his back is. My last walker could gait really well with a round back, a nice dressage outline and a fair degree of collection. She could trot just fine being hollow backed and high headed. Of course helping the horse find his longitudinal balance is good, but I don't think that's your issue right now.

Given that the trot is natural for your horse, I would teach the horse to trot first from a vocal command. Forget his shape or outline for the moment until he is clear with his gaits. I've done this a number of different ways, depending on the horse. One horse would trot on the longe, but not under saddle. So, I used the vocal command on the longe until it transferred to under saddle.

Another would trot in mud. So, we lunged in the mud until she got it. Another would trot in the snow. And so on. Watch the horse in the transitions; some will trot coming down from canter. Every time you see it, give the verbal command, then reward.

If you have to stand in the field commanding "trot!" while he trots at liberty, then do so.

They are very smart horses and I've never had one with a genetic tendency to trot who could not learn to trot under saddle. Once they associate the word "trot" with the gait, it's usually a snap to get it under saddle, then you can refine your aids and worry about the shape of the horse.

[BaileyTW]

Thanks Kathy. Hmm, I'll try setting him loose up in the ring next time I am out and trying that. He does all sorts of gaits. The only thing he hasn't done yet that I'm aware of is a foxtrot.

Like you said, he is extremely intelligent, he figures things out quick (He's Houdini around our barn) and he always seems to be puzzling over some new mystery, or if I am working with him to teach him something he is very active in trying to figure out the lesson.

I will give that a try, then. its hard for me to tell when I ride him and thought I had him trotting, but he somehow figured out how to manage to pace without wiggling so it felt like a trot. I need to be able to see him now to see what he's up to. He is very good with voice commands (he know his "kiss kiss" and "can-TER!" for sure! lol.)

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Tamara in TN]

[QUOTE=BaileyTW;3098751]

Like you said, he is extremely intelligent, he figures things out quick

how is he bred ? that will tell you how to begin :)

[BaileyTW]

you mean what are his bloodlines?
His sire is Hard Texas Cash, and his dam is a Delight's Enchanter foal. All his lines go to Midnight sun and/or Pride of Midnight.

I don't know anything about bloodlines though! I just looked up photos of the horses on his pedigree... I've never had a papered horse before. lol. So you'll have to tell me what it all means.

He's a cutie, he's been filling out nicely the past few months.

He is pretty 'walky' It didn't take much to get him going in a gait after I got him. he basically needs conditioning to stay in it now. He only hard paced at first when I got him, but I think he's fairly green and the dealers I got him from thought it was really cool that he could pace REALLY fast. argh. He seems to have a fairly slow running walk, so that will be another nice thing to train him to trot for, so I can keep up with my Trakehener-riding friend!

[Dixon]

I have had trotting poles suggested, but he thinks they are for him to play a game of "kick the pole" with. He actually seems to TRY and knock them around. :rolleyes:

I loved this part. Should say I got a "kick" out of it. (Rolls eyes at self).

[Tamara in TN]

you mean what are his bloodlines?
His sire is Hard Texas Cash, and his dam is a Delight's Enchanter foal. All his lines go to Midnight sun and/or Pride of Midnight.

well...most do anymore :) Sun's Delight was a nice nice broodmare sire...if he's on there....




He seems to have a fairly slow running walk, so that will be another nice thing to train him to trot for, so I can keep up with my Trakehener-riding friend!

if he is square and not racky your job to trot on will be one of simply keeping him very collected and asking for brief "bumps" of it ...(not enough to want to annoy him into rearing or going back ward:lol:) but hold him there between your leg and hand...

and you be sure post when you want him to trot on...every time and use a neck strap if you need to...the dis- orientation he will be in can make a very deep seated rider feel/ do odd goofy things...best to keep off his mouth and not let your pride get in the way of protecting that...


remember it is very hard for a gaited to "get it" if the rider stays in a sitting trot......it may may even help if feel like you need to "lift " him into the trot with your lower legs...

he is bred to gait...if he is what I think he is...very old and set walking blood...:) keep all your gait cues very sepeprate and distinct and good luck

[BaileyTW]

Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it. Yes, I've been told he is an older-style "pleasure" walker type. And yes, Delights Enchanter is a Suns Delight foal.

He's used to me posting, lol. Once he started that unswingy pace I started posting that when we go on paperchases or something (he LOVES doing paperchases).

Thanks again for all your suggestions. My trainer has fun working with Bailey and I. She thinks his overstride is cool and just adores his personality. lol.

[Mini_Me]

What is your horses registered name? I'd like to look into his pedigree a bit more. Registered with TWHBEA I assume?

Sometimes it's a shame to take some of these 'old bred' guys and not let them gait. That said, I've had a few who had a strong trot over the years, and I utilized as just another way to work and condition them.

The reason a lot of the gaited trainers like their horses pacey is because it encourages them to relax, 'swing' and reach under themselves. It does actually help to get the desired head shaking, overstepping walk on some of them.

Sorry for getting a little longwinded there, but this is something I actually know a little about. My mare and I got our Youth Versatility Championship many years ago. Points in english pleasure, western pleasure, equitation, showmanship, halter, trail, reining, hunter over fences, and competitive trail. It was an awesome experience to learn and show (succesfully) against all other breeds. I learned early to ignore the 'subjective' judges who chose not to place the gaited horse.

[Zen and Horses]

In addition to conditioning a cue to trot that you can transfer to under saddle, I would suggest altering your focus under saddle. Assuming the previous trainer was very focused and intentional, you may get a lot farther faster by having a 'la de dah,' 'I don't care what you do' attitude while in the saddle. The more you struggle, focus, half halt, collect and fidgit the harder the horse may try to give you what he thinks you want. 'Changing the game' on them can do a world of wonders, and quickly to. As the natural horsemanship trainers are fond of saying, play with your horse, don't train him. Teach him a new game called the T R O T game.

[BaileyTW]

Hey, thats OK, I enjoy hearing more about them. I would be happy to let him gait most of the time, and I would like to continue to develop his running walk, especially for on the trail. But a trot is nice to have too (especially when it is as pretty as his!!).
here is a link to his pedigree: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/the+texas+kingpin
haha, yea, he is registered with TWHBEA, though his papers have a long list of people that never got ownership transferred.. so his papers are out of date. TWHBEA told me I would have to pay for all the transfers (HUNDREDS of dollars... no way. not for a horse I'm not really competing) and have everyone sign it to get it to me.Poor guy, I don't know why no one wanted him, hes so sweet and has a wonderful temperment. He gets a little ring sour sometimes, but I don't blame him there. I like to mix it up.

Zen, thanks for the suggestions (We were both typing at the same time, I think). I'm sure getting a lot to think about here.

[Elegante E]

To get the trot, I would teach him to canter first. You are more likely to get the great trot coming down from canter. Work on the lunge line first, teach the verbal cues and work on getting the trot on the line. I have a pacey mare and the only time she's ever shown a normal trot is coming down from canter. It's a matter of breaking up the lateral movement of the legs, which is why most gaited trainers won't let their horses canter. So go to canter then trot.

[Tamara in TN]

[QUOTE=Zen and Horses;3099919]you may get a lot farther faster by having a 'la de dah,' 'I don't care what you do' attitude while in the saddle. The more you struggle, focus, half halt, collect and fidgit the harder the horse may try to give you what he thinks you want.


not to dissuade that idea...but the gaited are a little different....have the "la de dah attitude" and you will get one of three things

pace
flat walk
trot

his breeding suggests the old time flat walk and there fore he should easily pop into a trot as his normal way of going is "neutral" to "round"...if left to the pacey side of things I'd just have to have told her not bother...:)

to the OP take a good look at how high his hocks are behind in comparison to his knees....the closer in height the better we have a chance at a square trot....

[BaileyTW]

his hocks are about even with his knees. Here is an older photo of him. He's in winter snow-yak form here, sorry. He's very handsome in the summer. really.


http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa288/TWHequestrian/IMG_0962.jpg