Bit. First, have your veterinarian or a certified equine dentist check and treat any teeth problems that could painfully interfere with the bit. When you're ready to shop, buy an ordinary bit, not a "Walking Horse" model. Your new horse won't need a high-leverage, long-shanked mouthpiece. He can and should go down the trail in an easy bit, such as a simple mullen-mouth or French-link snaffle, or a short-shanked, medium-port grazing bit. (For more on bits, talk to a knowledgeable riding instructor or reputable trainer.) Or you could try riding without any bit at all. Many Walking Horses go very kindly in a Bitless Bridle (866/235-0938; www.bitlessbridle.com).
Saddle. You already know that it's essential for a saddle to fit your new horse comfortably. Walking Horses typically have wide backs. His shoulders are wide, long, sloping, and mobile. You'll probably need a saddle with a wide or extra-wide tree. It should sit well behind the shoulder, but not too far back. If you ride English, a wide, all-purpose or dressage saddle may be your best bet; if you ride Western, you'll need to look for a saddle with flaring bars that can accommodate the slope of the shoulders. You'll also need short, rounded skirts-long, square skirts are likely to interfere with your horse's hips, which will likely cause soreness. An endurance saddle with an extra-wide tree may be just the thing for your horse's comfort and your own. If nothing "off the rack" seems to fit, consider a custom or semi-custom model. Avoid saddles that put you into a "chair" seat, with your heels forward of your shoulders and hips.
Q. Will I be riding my Walking Horse any differently from other breeds?
A. Once you're in the saddle, you'll need to allow your Walking Horse to engage in his natural head-nodding motion, which is an essential part of his running walk. If you restrict his head-nodding, you'll not only frustrate your new horse, but you'll cause him to restrict or change his gait. If you ever have trouble with gaiting or cooperation, check to see whether you're inadvertently holding his head too tightly for him to gait properly.
It may take a few rides before you learn to relax your back and let your body go with the flow, especially if you're used to a shorter, less ground-covering stride and a bumpier gait. This is particularly true if your own back is sore and you're in the habit of tensing against your horse's movement. But once you relax and begin to enjoy your "Cadillac ride," your only problem will be the bugs in your teeth from riding all day with a big smile.
Q. Will I still be able to ride with friends who own non-gaited horses?
A. Actually, your biggest problem may be finding someone to ride with. If your friends ride Walking Horses or long-striding Thoroughbreds, all will be well. But if you go out on the trail with other riders whose horses have to trot or even canter to keep up with your horse's walk, your friends may not be happy with you.
There are several solutions to this problem. You can ride only with the friends who have horses with long, ground-covering strides, you can seek out people whose horses are like yours (and discover a whole new group of friends), or you can do both. If you always ride with the same friend, or with your spouse, consider buying two Walking Horses so that you can ride stirrup-to-stirrup, and chat as you go. TTR
Jessica Jahiel, PhD (www.jessicajahiel.com) is an internationally recognized clinician and lecturer, and an award-winning author of books on horses, riding, and training. Her e-mail newsletter (www.horse-sense.org) is a popular worldwide resource. Her latest book is The Horse Behavior Problem Solver: Your Questions Answered about how Horses Think, Learn, and React (Storey Publishing). Jessica bought her black Tennessee Walking Horse mare, Velvet, out of a field as an unbroken 3-year-old; this year, the mare celebrated her 30th birthday.
