Tennesse Walker that...trots? What's up?

StockHorseGirl · 07-24-2008, 10:40 AM

So, I have this Tennessee Walker that won't gait. He does this.

YouTube - Chief

Yeah it's pretty but it's a TROT! What the heck? He does this under saddle too. Did I get swindled and ended up with some freak of nature TWH that doesn't gait?

AppalosaCowGirl · 07-24-2008, 10:43 AM

my friend has a TW that doesn't gait (she is glad, she doesn't like gaited horses lol) but she always says it is because he was never taught to gait. Idk if this is the truth. I don't know anything about TW's.. lol

WashingtonBay · 07-24-2008, 10:43 AM

My friend's gaited horses all trot and canter in the field, but they try to discourage it under saddle. Does he gait under saddle?

Dawn · 07-24-2008, 10:43 AM

That's a beautiful trot! Unfortunately it's not what you want. Some walkers have to have a little training encouragement in order to gait properly. Some will pace, some will trot, but the correct gaits are usually hiding under the surface, they just haven't gotten the feel for them.

Have you ever seen him gait at liberty? Are you sure he's 100% twh and not a cross?

I've also (personally) found that it's much more difficult to get a walker to gait while lunging if they're not already prone to doing so. Straight lines, preferably up a hill are the most helpful.

StockHorseGirl · 07-24-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawn

That's a beautiful trot! Unfortunately it's not what you want. Some walkers have to have a little training encouragement in order to gait properly. Some will pace, some will trot, but the correct gaits are usually hiding under the surface, they just haven't gotten the feel for them.

Have you ever seen him gait at liberty? Are you sure he's 100% twh and not a cross?

I've also (personally) found that it's much more difficult to get a walker to gait while lunging if they're not already prone to doing so. Straight lines, preferably up a hill are the most helpful.

Thanks Dawn, yeah I love my big boy's trot but I want to show him in gaited classes. Usually when he's out in the pasture he's cantering around with the other horses so I haven't seen him gait.

He doesn't have papers, so I'm not sure if hes pure or not. We bought him from a guy that used to trail ride on him and told us he was gaited. I think I'll get my mom to ask him if he gaited.

He tosses his head when I'm riding him now. I think he needs his teeth looked at. Could this possibly be affecting him?

Dawn · 07-24-2008, 11:41 AM

I would have a trainer work with him and see what they think in person (after getting his teeth checked). Teeth can affect a horse in a lot of ways that you initially wouldn't even attribute to teeth. So yes, it is a possibility. What bit are you using on him? A lot of time those 'walking horse' bits actually interfere with the horse's natural way of going.
And of course there's the possibility that he's not a twh at all, or is crossed, or is some other gaited breed altogether. (He does very much have the 'look' of a twh or racking horse. But it's very possible that he's crossed with a non-gaited breed.)

bnwalker2 · 07-24-2008, 11:42 AM

Misty is a TWH and she both gaits and trots/canters like a non gaited horse. I actually really like her trot and canter, more so than the gaiting. But I'm so used to non gaited horses that it's just my preference.

Ms_Pigeon · 07-24-2008, 11:44 AM

Bummer...but a lovely trot in the bargain!

We have a BLM mustang that paces (which we, teaching hunter/jumper lessons don't need!). If only we could swap out their gaits...

cowgirlnat · 07-24-2008, 11:57 AM

I have TWH...w/papers. He trots. I've seen him gait in the pasture and he gaits under saddle just fine. But when I lunge him, he always trots...as do a lot of twh. Show horses are discouraged to do so, but it's not that the TWH is born w/the ability to NOT trot...they're born w/the ability to have an extra gait. And often you have to know how to ride a TWH to be able to get them to gait. They're born w/the natural ability to do a running walk, but that doesn't mean they necissarily want to do it. My horse prefers to canter over anything else. And some have a stronger natural drive to do it than others. It's kind of like the breeding give the horse the blue prints for gaiting and it's up to the trainer to make something out of them.

Kitari · 07-24-2008, 12:15 PM

It looks like he switched to the gait at the very end

07-24-2008, 10:43 AM	#2
AppalosaCowGirl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: PA Mason/Dixon border Posts: 1,904	my friend has a TW that doesn't gait (she is glad, she doesn't like gaited horses lol) but she always says it is because he was never taught to gait. Idk if this is the truth. I don't know anything about TW's.. lol __________________ just down to one horse now... and by the fall.. no horses I think I will live though.

07-24-2008, 11:42 AM	#7
bnwalker2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sunman, Indiana Posts: 7,402 Images: 84	Misty is a TWH and she both gaits and trots/canters like a non gaited horse. I actually really like her trot and canter, more so than the gaiting. But I'm so used to non gaited horses that it's just my preference. __________________ ~Britni~ and: Halo - 5/19/09 - Quarter Horse filly Nacera - 4/22/89 Arabian mare Vega - 5/28/09 - Arabian filly Rain - 4/25/05 - Appaloosa mare I Have Been Gobbled by Thom Turkey!!!

07-24-2008, 11:57 AM	#9
cowgirlnat Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 1,734 Images: 309 Blog Entries: 11	I have TWH...w/papers. He trots. I've seen him gait in the pasture and he gaits under saddle just fine. But when I lunge him, he always trots...as do a lot of twh. Show horses are discouraged to do so, but it's not that the TWH is born w/the ability to NOT trot...they're born w/the ability to have an extra gait. And often you have to know how to ride a TWH to be able to get them to gait. They're born w/the natural ability to do a running walk, but that doesn't mean they necissarily want to do it. My horse prefers to canter over anything else. And some have a stronger natural drive to do it than others. It's kind of like the breeding give the horse the blue prints for gaiting and it's up to the trainer to make something out of them. __________________ NC REALTOR, USMC Wife, Horse/dog/cat/mouse owner, student...Master of Many Arts... The sound of thundering hooves is the rhythm to which my soul dances. The wind blown through a mane is the breeze on which my soul flies.

07-24-2008, 12:15 PM	#10
Kitari Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pine Level Al. Posts: 2,350 Blog Entries: 7	It looks like he switched to the gait at the very end __________________ *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Heroes in a half shell. Turtle power!* I am Pro-Slaughter Poco's Poco and Annabella Red

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07-24-2008, 10:43 AM	#3
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 1,611 Images: 109 Blog Entries: 2	My friend's gaited horses all trot and canter in the field, but they try to discourage it under saddle. Does he gait under saddle?

07-24-2008, 10:43 AM	#4
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,203 Images: 1580	That's a beautiful trot! Unfortunately it's not what you want. Some walkers have to have a little training encouragement in order to gait properly. Some will pace, some will trot, but the correct gaits are usually hiding under the surface, they just haven't gotten the feel for them. Have you ever seen him gait at liberty? Are you sure he's 100% twh and not a cross? I've also (personally) found that it's much more difficult to get a walker to gait while lunging if they're not already prone to doing so. Straight lines, preferably up a hill are the most helpful.

07-24-2008, 11:41 AM	#6
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,203 Images: 1580	I would have a trainer work with him and see what they think in person (after getting his teeth checked). Teeth can affect a horse in a lot of ways that you initially wouldn't even attribute to teeth. So yes, it is a possibility. What bit are you using on him? A lot of time those 'walking horse' bits actually interfere with the horse's natural way of going. And of course there's the possibility that he's not a twh at all, or is crossed, or is some other gaited breed altogether. (He does very much have the 'look' of a twh or racking horse. But it's very possible that he's crossed with a non-gaited breed.)

07-24-2008, 11:44 AM	#8
Ms_Pigeon Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Desert Southwest, USA Posts: 542 Images: 1	Bummer...but a lovely trot in the bargain! We have a BLM mustang that paces (which we, teaching hunter/jumper lessons don't need!). If only we could swap out their gaits...