My 9-year-old gaited gelding is very soft and laid back. I've ridden him more than a year, and he's taking small jumps. His trotting has smoothed out and his cantering is coming along. I'm currently ground-driving him, and taking driving lessons. (I have 20 years' riding experience and am a Certified Horsemanship Association instructor.) He accepts this and is becoming accustomed to a borrowed harness. My question: Are gaited horses a good choice for driving?
Vicky Hudson via e-email
Gaited horses make fine driving animals. All our young horses are trained to drive. As with any endeavor, it's important to teach your horse how to move in a good, relaxed form. Determine which gait is most efficient for him to use with a cart, and stick to it.
Note that many gaited horses are taught to drive in gait, but this is a bad idea if your horse does a single-foot type of rack, as he needs to have at least two legs on the ground to support the work of pulling a cart. Driving at the trot is fine, as long as your horse's saddle gait is consistent. If not, then stick to the walk and the gait. I prefer not to see horses driven at the pace, as this can contribute to early hock problems.
Saddle-Fit Test
How can you tell if poor saddle dynamics are your horse's problem? First, check him for saddle fit and soreness level. Here's how.
Step 1: Check the tree at a stop. Ask a helper to mount your horse, then slide your hand about three inches under the saddle tree's bar, located in front of (or over) your horse's wither and shoulder, to ensure there's plenty of room for comfortable shoulder motion. It should feel snug, not too tight or too loose.
Step 2: Check the tree at a walk. Ask your helper to walk your horse while you keep your hand in place. Is there pinching or pressure on your hand that normally is borne by the horse's shoulder? Or does the saddle slide around loosely?
Step 3: Check underneath rider weight. Place the flat of your hand under the saddle at the point where the greatest amount of the rider's weight falls, and press firmly. The first time you do this, your horse might flinch slightly in reaction to an unexpected feel. But he flinches hard, pins his ears, swings his head at you, and/or steps vigorously away, there's a good chance you've discovered some deep-down soreness issues you'll need to address.
Step 4: Check for body crookedness. If your horse travels asymmetrically under saddle, he may be attempting to avoid saddle-bar pressure. To test, halter him, and ask him to place equal weight on all four feet. As a helper holds him, stand on a stool or bale of hay behind him, out of kicking range, then look straight up his spine. Some asymmetry is to be expected; there's a problem if you see extreme crookedness, that is, his head is positioned strongly to one side, and/or one shoulder is much more prominent than another. Sometimes, in extreme cases, you can see the spine "zig-zag."
Step 5: Evaluate gaits under saddle. One reliable indication of saddle problems is if your horse has no "second gear" under saddle. With practice, he should be able to go from an active walk to a more dynamic flat walk, and then into a faster gait, while maintaining good form. If he continually stiffens, throws up his head, hollows his back, and rushes right from a walk into gait - despite your efforts to gain consistency and form - then he may simply be unable to perform a moderate gait or maintain good form in your current setup.
To submit your gaited-horse-related question, send an e-mail to Brenda Imus at jamie@gaitsofgoldcom Or write The Trail Rider, attn: Smooth Talk, 730 Front St., Louisville, CO 80027. Please include your horse's breed, age, and gender.
Brenda Imus (www.gaitsofgold.com) presents at horse expos and private clinics throughout the United States and Canada. She focuses on teaching horse owners how to humanely bring out their horse's best innate gaits. She's the author of Heavenly Gaits: The Complete Guide to Gaited Riding Horses.
