Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Pete, do you mean ride DOWN a slight incline if they're trotty?  With  
my RMH/Arab who foxtrots, going uphill makes him more likely to  
trot... but of course I'm aiming for the diagonal side of square with  
him.
-Sharon L. in Maine


Quoting Peter Harper <peteharper1@xxxxxxxxx>:

> We raise and ride TWH's in endurance and have a lot of experience with gait.
>
> Can you tell me more about your horse.  Starting at a dog walk, when  
>  you ask for more speed what is the next gait you get.  If they are   
> not square in their gait they will break to either a pace (2-beat   
> gait where the legs on the same side move together, LF-LR .. RF-RR)   
> or trot (2-beat diagonal where the opposing legs move together LF-RR  
>  .. RF-LR).
>
> If they break to a pace:
>  - Ask for more collection.  You want them to round out more.
>  - Light contact on the reins with your hands held low.
>  - sit deep on your pockets shifting more weight on the hind.  This   
> will encourage the horse to drive more from the hind end.
>  - Ride up a slight incline.  Again this will encourage more drive   
> from the hind.
>
> If they break to a trot:
>  - You want them less rounded.
>  - Light contact on the reins but hold your hands higher.
>  - Sit deep on your pockets.
>  - Ride up a slight incline.
>
> You are going to want to ride a lot at a walk at first.  Keep   
> encouraging the gait you want.  When they break gait use a half halt  
>  to bring them back into the desired gait.  Another correction is to  
>  do a slight turn break up the pace.  Other people use cavaletties  
> to  get them to pick up their feet more. With time you will notice  
> the  speed at which they break gait will increase.
>
> A lot of people will tell you not to canter a gaited horse while you  
>  are teaching gait.  I haven't had a problem with this.  Rather than  
>  ride the undesirable intermediate gait, pace/trot, take them   
> straight to the canter from the run walk.
>
> Good Luck,  Pete
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
>  Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
>  Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
>  Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
>
>  Ride Long and Ride Safe!!
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-