Horse gait question (Pictures added)

[helmstead]

He looks very Paso-y to me. We have a Paso/Arab cross who has the most wonderful flatfoot running walk.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Yeah, that's exactly what I am thinking. Originally, I didn't want a young horse, but my dad saw her advertised on craigslist and we said what the heck and went to look at her. There were two of them...a gelding and a mare. The gelding was a little devil. I don't even think he was really gelded! The mare was just a sweet heart and she was a black and white paint to boot! That is my dream color (Not that color matters for a good horse, but how can you resist when the horse is sweet and a nice color?!)

She's been such a quick learner so far. I worked with her a few days after we bought her teaching some basic ground manners. While I'm at school, my dad works with her. Over the summer I'm hoping to get her to the point where I can show in some halter and showmanship classes. I LOVE that she hasn't been tainted with bad manners. She's not afraid of whips (I want my horses to see them as tools, not punishments!) and she hasn't been hit for most of her life. Hopefully I can manage NOT to teach her any bad habits! It will definitely be an adventure!

Here are some pictures of her. She will be two May 16th.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

He looks very Paso-y to me. We have a Paso/Arab cross who has the most wonderful flatfoot running walk.

Interesting! It would be funny if he had paso in him. My dad swore he would never get a paso because he doesn't like the gait they do. He says it isn't "manly". I disagree with him! I think pasos are awesome!​

 

[SpringChickens]

She's a cutie! Looks like you did well with her!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thank you! I can't wait to get more pictures of her this summer!

 

[piecemaker]

Quote:
I have a MFT they are great on trails. I won't have anything eles. They have super smooth movments. Plus they can out walk anything around. Good luck with yours.
Piecemaker

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

I've never heard of anyone teaching a horse to gait that wasn't born with it. I have seen people use a hobbling harnes to attempt to "remind" a registered gaited breed horse that he/she is supposed to gait. That he does it so easily says to me that he was born with it.

 

[CountryMom]

I have heard of and even have a girlfriend that purchased a QH from Mexico that was taught to gait. One of our local Texas Cutting trainers has a Paint that also gaits. It isn't their natural way of going and I have heard that the horses are trained rather cruely to get this done. I don't believe they travel exactly like the other gaited breeds such as a Paso, Walker or Peruvian. My girlfriend's horse in particular was a basket case from what I remember her telling me.

 

[Cara]

My mother in law's QH mare has a very comfortable gait in between a walk and a trot, but she is not 'gaited'. We have a couple of ranch horses that will also do a running walk, but they're not trained specifically to do it, the guys just fight over who gets those ones

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thanks guys!

Countrymom,

Our guy also has a bunch of issues. He's getting much better, but we've noticed quite a few signs of abuse. He has multiple scars on the inside of his lips from the harsh bits they would use on him. Our dentist pointed that out when we first got him. He also has several scars on his body, which may not be from abuse, but it does make you wonder. We paid way too much for this horse, but we still think he has potential. I wouldn't trust anyone but my dad, myself and other really experienced horse people on him though. Its not that he's dangerous, but he's not trustworthy like our other horses are and has the potential to do something stupid/dangerous. Our one old gelding doesn't have a mean bone in his body, and we often give "pony" rides on him. Its just amazing how the personalities of horses can differ so much!

Cara,
It's funny because the first time I noticed the gait I thought he was injured! LOL, I had never ridden a gaited horse before. I remember I called my dad up to the field to watch and make sure he wasn't limping or something funky like that. That's when we realized he was doing that running walk thing. He seems to prefer that to trotting. To me it seems like more work for him because he really has to swing his head back and forth! I wish I could get a video of him doing it. Maybe this summer I will try!