Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

It's my guess that a lot of the "really nice trots" on horses that
sometimes and have paced, are most likely foxtrots, which are
considered a form of gaiting. Instead of both diagonals hitting at the
same time, there is a slight offset, which makes it more comfortable
to ride. It's often hard to identify a foxtrot without photos, the
offset can be very slight and still produce a more comfortable ride.

A foxtrot is my favorite gait - secure, fast, smooth.  The handful of
walkers I've gathered will do a comfortable running walk, a foxtrot as
an extended intermediate gait, and a very nice canter. I do avoid
strong pacers because although it can be trained out of them to a
degree, they are generally less sure-footed and less likely to be able
to canter properly - at least in my experience. I also allow  my
gaited horses that do a real trot, to do so at times - I like variety.

To those who like the pace...I cannot...just cannot imagine that you
are actually riding a full pace and enjoying it. A stepping pace will
have the side to side sway, and is a LOT less jarring - often even
smooth. But,  there is nothing smooth about a full pace.



On 7/18/07, Buzzard's Roost <buzzardsroostbbq@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I think this question is for me... and yes, he gaits beautifully, which is
> kinda odd because I trot and canter so much he should have forgotten how!
> He's a nice mover though and it's just so natural for him, he ALWAYS gaits
> when he's excited or nervous.  It's his default.  I once entered a
> competition in the non-gaited category because when I pictured running
> through the course, I imagined trotting it in this nice controlled manner,
> but when he got there he was so excited all he could do was gait!  We ended
> up fighting about it the whole time just to keep from getting disqualified!
> Next time, we'll compete gaited for sure.
>
> Now don't ask me to explain why I trot a beautifully gaited horse.  I
> probably can't adequately answer that one.  His trot is heavenly though.  &
> his trot paces him almost exactly with his 1/2 Arab riding buddy's canter.
> So it works.
>
>
>
> Karen Sullivan <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hm....since he can both trot and pace......can he GAIT?
>
>
>
>
>  ________________________________
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