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[NoBite]

I met a lady who was shopping in our local tack shop. I got in on the end of a conversation and the owner of the tack shop told the lady, "John has gaited horses, maybe he can help."


Uh, okay, what's the story? Seems that this lady (it's dangerous to guess a lady's age, but I'll wager mid- to late 40's) has become the new owner of her first gaited horse, a 10 year old TWH who has spent his life as a show horse. The lady has been having some back and knee issues and has persuaded herself to get a gaited horse. All her friends ride quarter horses. She has no friend with a gaited horse. She wants this horse as her trail horse... to ride along with quarter horses. Her question to me was what bit should she get the horse as he didn't seem to be comfortable on his very first trail ride in his current setup.


Seems to me she has opened up Pandora's Box! She has more issues than she realizes at this moment. So, I answered her question directly by telling her what I use and why. But, I also mentioned that there was a LOT more to understanding and riding a gaited horse than the bit selection, especially taking a show horse out into the big world of trails for the first time. I really don't know where to go next. She did not ask me for additional help, but if I were to give her any advice, what would you suggest?


I asked if she knew of any trainers that were close to where she lived. She did not. I have a good friend that is knowledgeable in working with riders and gaited horses, but he doesn't live close to her. Could I point her to this forum? My feeling is she needs hands on help. Your thoughts?

[Little Freckles]

is she someone you might want to go on a ride with?  Pointing her to this forum is never a bad choice in my book :-), but seeing for yourself what she is riding and how she rides it would help you point her in a meaningful direction.

[kckc]

wow...that was a terrible dilemma.... that poor horse just needs some training … not gaited gear :-(   I hope she finds a way  to enjoy him.

[KysaSD]

 Definitely invite her to this forum if she ever asks you another question.   But I will say some people learn well by reading and looking at pictures, but others don’t. She should be able to understand that a Showhorse of any breed is not going to be a good trail horse without some work and exposure to trails.

[luvmysmh]

She is also quite possibly going to have trouble keeping her TW slow enough to ride with QH's. 

A good sensible dressage instructor can do wonders.  Not someone who teaches "show ring" dressage but just basic dressage skills.

Finding clinics in her area that she could attend would be great - Gary Lane, Larry Whitesell, Jennifer Bauer - to name a few.

Certainly this forum is a great resource!  Also there may be websites with youtube videos that could be helpful.

I agree there is nothing like hands-on help, but sometimes that just isn't feasible.  I wish her the best!  I've been there and it isn't easy to go it alone.

[NoBite]

Definitely invite her to this forum if she ever asks you another question.   But I will say some people learn well by reading and looking at pictures, but others don’t. She should be able to understand that a Showhorse of any breed is not going to be a good trail horse without some work and exposure to trails.

I doubt that I will see her again. But, I do have her phone number. I texted her the description of the bit I use since she was specifically looking for a recommendation. I can text her the link to this forum. Maybe she will come here! I really don't know.

[slamduncan]

Yes give her the forum information  She has a huge learning curve for sure going from a qh to gaited and then to get herself a show horse.  She needs a trainer and instructor for sure.  wish I lived closer. 

[NoBite]

I did text her the forum information. I hope she comes here. No idea if she will.

[Kalli]

Holy cow! Sounds like she’s in deep snow! 

Not sure where she lives or what type of person she is. If she is at all unsure of herself, I recommend Ivy schexnayder.  She’s kind, patient, knowledgeable and gives very good advice.

If she’s more self-assured she can do the W clinic. Not sure about GL as I’ve never been to his.

[Walkin45]

She should have kept the current  but he was being ridden in. I change a lot of things but never the bits.

[NoBite]

I have no idea if she is going to actually change the bit.


Upon discussion with some friends, if I were to get the chance to meet this lady again, I think I'd advise her to sell the TWH and look for a mountain horse, one that had been ridden on trails. Most of the mountain horses can get along walking nicely with QHs and even their gait is not so difficult to learn. And, generally, they have easy going personalities, though that varies, of course, with each horse. I think she would be better served with a mountain horse.

[loneelk]

I have no idea if she is going to actually change the bit.


Upon discussion with some friends, if I were to get the chance to meet this lady again, I think I'd advise her to sell the TWH and look for a mountain horse, one that had been ridden on trails. Most of the mountain horses can get along walking nicely with QHs and even their gait is not so difficult to learn. And, generally, they have easy going personalities, though that varies, of course, with each horse. I think she would be better served with a mountain horse.

A nice CALM Missouri fox trotter could also work well with quarter horses. 

[KysaSD]

 Oh Val, that is so true! We have a 4 1/2-year-old Missouri Foxtrotter. He’s so sweet and he’s so good with the kids. But he takes so much work for me to ride him. He doesn’t care if the other horses are half a mile ahead. And that is actually good for kids horse. But it is work to make him keep up with the mountain horses and the Tennessee Walker.  He would be the perfect gaited horse to ride with quarter horses.  And then he has the cutest little fox trot ever.
 I’m sure that Cyd will ride him at least once on our vacation in two weeks, so she can report what he’s like.

[foxtrotter]

  Oh Kysa, I really need your foxtrotter.   I am now mostly riding with quarter horses, and it's pretty frustrating for Shiloh, she has a naturally long stride, and it makes her walk so much faster than the 1/4 horses.   We use to ride with gaited horses, but seems like a bunch of the riders have gotten out of riding now. 

[KysaSD]

I would offer him to you....except he is a Curly foxtrotter for a granddaughter who is allergic to horses.   He is actually everything we need in a horse for Cadence.   She truly does not react to him in any way.   And his laziness makes him good for kids.  No buck, bolt, or rear in this guy because that would take too much effort!  I just looked at my trail app, and I am guessing his good foxtrot is 6.8 mph.  After that he falls apart.  He does have a beautiful rack, which we have yet to get under saddle.  A project for next year, maybe.