Is My Horse Naturally Gaited?

      As you know, not every animal is the same. What works on horse A, may confuse the heck outa horse B. Pushing one through the bridle IS a great way to collect one to help him gait. I've done all this, and more to help set gait. Why, do you ask, do they NEED set? Aren't they NATURALLY gaited? While it is true that they are naturally gaited, it is a matter of balance. Let's say, for instance, that you LOVE to tango. Your instructor tells you that you have a natural talent for this. One day, your instructor comes to you and puts a 200lb pack on your back and says "TANGO!!" Well, you remember the steps, but your balance is not the same. You have to relearn how to make these moves with the constantly shifting weight on your back. It's much the same for a gaited horse. They have to relearn, in a way, how to gait while carrying someone. If you get them well, and truly "set" in their gait, then yes, you can let them go for extended periods and they still pick it up. But let's face it. Not all horses (or people for that matter) are equally talented. Some horses are just not that graceful, or smart. It doesn't make them "bad", just not as talented. Some of these take a bit more training, but all can gait. Also, in reference to hill work, a long slow hill is EXCELLENT for developing gait, but I've found that working them down a really steep hill will help to develop overstride. There are LOTS of ways to develop gait, or to encourage the correct gait. For instance, I wrote an article not long ago, about the two dirty words for gaited people. One is "Pace", the other is "trot". While any horse can walk, trot and canter, gaited horses were bred to gait. If we wanted one that just trotted, we'd have bought a Quarter Horse! So we get our bright shiny new Fox Trotter out and lo and behold, he PACES like a CAMEL! OH NO! Now what? You may ask, "So what if he paces, isn't that a gait?" Yes, it is, and for some breeds, such as the Standardbred, it is desirable. When training Fox Trotting Horses, however, It is NOT a desired gait. So what do you do to fix this? Deep footing is one way to help "break up" the pace. It encourages them to lift higher, and in turn also helps to break up that pace.




Brooks Gaited Horse Training

First Trail Ride

It was an awesome, if long day. I took Sonny out for his first ride, and he promptly REFUSED to step even ONE foot on the blacktop! LOL It took a bit of coaxing, but I got him on it. It took a bit MORE coaxing to get him to cross the wooden bridge that crosses the river.He did the same thing as when he seen the blacktop. He put on the brakes and stopped on a dime. He wouldn't step not a toe on the bridge. I worked him for a bit from the saddle, then decided we'd be best to try it from the ground. I got off and led him to the edge, he still wanted to balk, but eventually he stepped up on it. I led him back and forth several times, without letting him step off it. I then mounted up and rode him back and forth a few times. Then, we rode off the bridge and down the road a about a quarter mile to another bridge. This was a small, low water bridge that had a waterfall coming off of it. It was not deep, but was pretty noisy. My goal here was to just get him to it. I achieved my goal, rewarded him by taking off the pressure, petted and loved on him, then headed back the way we came. We went along at a pretty good clip for a bit up the wide open trail, then he, with great flourish I might add, fell flat on his nose! I, meanwhile, practiced my technique for gravel diving. I find that I can still take a nose dive into the gravel with the best of them. It was only AFTER I picked myself up and got down the road a ways, that I found something dry and witty to say. The only think I could think of to say while I was watching the ground come up, unfortunately for me, was "OH CRAP, YOU CLUMSY BAS&*%$D!" When one takes a dive like this, it should be noted that you should ALWAYS have something dry and witty to say while doing so. You know, something like " GERONIMO!" Or, you could try "BONZAI!!" But, OH CRAP doesnt really count.....
     BUT, Amos got his hair cut and he looks slick as a baby's butt with his new "Kojak" look. It took me 2.5 hours to body clip him. (yes, I know that's an awful long time) He was a good boy though. 


Brooks Gaited Horse Training

55 Excerpted from "Cinch Marks"

Its musty smell belies its use.

Its age belies its youth.

Creaking softly as it is picked up,

And carried.

Flung over, cinched down.

With a swish of fabric,

It is pushed down onto the withers.

Rushing wind, beating hooves, dripping sweat.

Gentle rubbing, lathering.

The wind stops.

Uncinched, creaking softly as it is picked up

And carried.

Its musty smell belies its use.

Its age belies its youth.

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Do you like my stories and poems? You can buy my e-books here: Brooks Gaited Horse Training

Loss Is Inevitable

As a trainer, I've seen accidents happen to other riders, and had more than my share of bangs and beats as well. I feel like it's time to share this very personal, very sad story.Sometimes, bad things happen, even to the best of us.
Some years ago, when I was just starting out on my own;I received a curly horse called Traveler. I was still a very young man, just barely out of my teens. I just called him Larry (for the stooge with the wild hair). He had previously been broken, the people just wanted him rode for thirty days or so. I rode him for six days. The folks were having trouble mounting him so that is the first thing I did was work on making him stand while mounting. The next few days we worked on neck reining and crossing water. He was coming along great. He had the makings of a truly fine horse. On the sixth day, My sister, my wife and I went for a ride. I rode Larry over to a friends place so I could meet them there. They were going to ride Molly and Traveler(another fine foxtrotter) . We had a real good ride, Larry did real well. When we got back to my friends place, I took care of the other horses and left again. About a mile down the road, Larry got real bad stove up and would do no more than walk. I got off and led him for about a mile and a half. He was getting progressively worse, so I turned him and took him to a local barn about a half mile from my position (there were no celular phones in those days). I put him in a stall and rubbed him down and went to call the vet and my father. My father was on his way so I lead him out of his stall. He would hardly lead all the way down there and now was no exception. He got clear of the door of the stall and laid down in the sand of the arena. He would not get up. When my father got there he looked at him and thought I had ridden him too hard. The diagnosis was colic. When the owner of the barn got home, it quickly changed to a twisted gut. We had already called the owners who called their own vet, (as we could not get one to answer the phone) and they came right over. The vet arrived shortly after and quickly pronounced it as "tying up" or severe Azoturia (Exertional Rhabdomyolisis), a muscle condition that causes severe muscle damage. The Amish used to call it "Monday Morning Sickness". The vet said they were unsure what caused it, as little was known about it. The eventual verdict was that they would put him down. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I have never seen a horse do that before and I hope I never do again. I was in agony too. Here was a creature that had just given me his heart and soul, and now was laying there, dying on the floor of the barn. What a cruel thing is a fate that would subject us to these things. I guess it is all over now, but I cannot help feeling bad. He was a good friend while I had him. There really is no moral to this story, everything was done that could be done, I just wanted to share the story of a great friend, with a greater heart.


Cinch Marks: Misadventures and Tall Tales From a Self Described Curmudgeon can be purchased here

A Lesson Well Learned Is a Lesson Worth Repeating

I was reminded of a very important lesson today. I took a little John mule I'm riding l, and went with my son and a couple of my friends to Busiek State Park to ride. At the midway point, I was asked to ride my friend's mule to see if I could get him to gait.My son wanted to ride the one I was on; so I let him ride him. they did a very good job until we got to the creek and the little mule balked and refused him. My son did not have spurs so could not coax him very well. A battle ensued and my son was on the losing end. He quickly lost his temper and got quite frustrated with the little mule. It was at this point that I intervened. I had him hold the one I was riding, and i got on the little turkey. I had the same issues with him(which was to be expected). He tried to rear, and dance and side step, and refused to go in the water. With some coaxing, and a lot of patience, I managed to get him to walk down the creek a ways. I rewarded him with a lot of praise and no small amount of patting and rubbing and good boys. I then had my son get on him and walk him in as well. They both did well this trip. We resumed our ride and had a great time. My son, however was still miffed at the mule for misbehaving. It took him about 10 minutes to get over his mad.We finished the ride, loaded our stock and headed home. We got back to the barn and unloaded. It was as we were leaving that I asked him what he'd learned today. He said" I learned today that it takes a lot more patience, and knowledge to train and correct these animals than I have." I told him that was a very good observation, and that I was proud of him for admitting it. You see, we as horsemen are not perfect. Our mounts are not perfect. We should learn from our shortcomings, and try to improve. Not only as trainers, but as people. In my own life, I know I'm not always as patient with people as I am with a horse. I am consciously trying to work on that. Thank you son for reminding me of such an important lesson.

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

What's The Difference

So, what IS the difference between gait in a mule, and gait in a horse? I've been training and riding gaited horses for many years now. Some time ago, I started working exclusively with gaited mules. This was a first for me. I'd ridden a gaited mule once, many years ago, but not for very long. It's really different. Gait definition for horses is clearly defined most times. Occasionally you may get one that will fudge the line between gaits, or is just not very talented. You have a lot of room to play with the gaits. Gait definition for mules however is very different. Being a hybrid, they retain the gait of the mother, but the frame of the donkey. They CAN gait, and some of them gait very well. However, the gaits, and the differences between the gaits is not clearly defined. It takes a LOT of work to get and keep a mule in gait. Horses gait because gait is bred into their soul. Mules gait because we teach them it's easier on them to gait like we ask, than to not. You really have to have a good ear and a very good seat to train gait in a mule. It's very similar to teaching a horse to gait, with the exception that the mule is smart enough to know that it's a WHOLE lot easier to trot than to gait. It's similar in that it takes repetition in the gait. The donkey naturally has a shorter stride than that of a horse. The mule inherited this from his sire. It's our job to tweak that stride so it lengthens. It helps them gait, and helps us identify and set the gait. It can be quite challenging. Mules are a real challenge, but I still love my Foxtrotters.







Brooks Gaited Horse Training

Dirty Words for Gaited Horse Owners

Are you ready to learn some dirty words? Well then, tune it!
     In every discipline, and every type of riding, there are certain things that are important and some that are just a no-no. When riding and training Gaited horses, you will find this is especially true. Gaited horses have been bred specifically for their easy gait. Whether it be a foxtrot, running walk, rack, tolt, corto or even the largo, the four-beat gait reigns supreme.The dirtiest word I can think of for Gaited riders is "trot". Trotting is definitely OUT of bounds. It isn't that these horses cannot do it, it's that it isn't what they were bred for. This breed of horses has a smooth, easy four beat gait that any Gaited rider will tell you is far superior to the trot. I suppose you could compare it to the difference between riding in a Ferrari and in a Rolls Royce. The Ferrari is slick and fast and corners well, and is fantastic for what it was designed for. The Rolls on the other hand, may not go from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, but it is definitely designed for comfort. The same can be said for the latter breed of horse.
     Another dirty word is"pace". A pace is the exception to the rule for gaited riders. It is an even, two beat lateral gait. Which means that the footfalls are side to side. He moves first one side, then the other producing an even, but not necessarily desirable gait. While it is an even beat, it is not as smooth as the foxtrot or even the rack. It's a very swingey gait that is frowned upon by most. It's all about being fast and smooth. I've ridden with a mixture of horses, and invariably, the rider on the quarter horse(or any other straight going animal) is forced to jog, or even canter to keep up with our Missouri Fox Trotter.




Brooks Gaited Horse Training

Control

Today I'l like to talk to you folks about control and where it starts. In my experience, I've found that all control starts in the horses face and in your hands. First and foremost, you must have good hands, to feel the bit and how it connects to your horses mouth. I always start gaining control by teaching lateral flexion. Flexion simply means to bend. I start with a very easy, soft O-ring snaffle bit. Standing at their hip, I collect the rein, preferably a thick braided rope rein, one they can feel. I bend him about 1/4 of the way. The object here is to hold steady pressure until HE breaks over. It will not be a dramatic give at first. You will be looking for the smallest of tries. When he releases you release, instantly. You have to be watching closely and know what you're looking for. If you are uncertain, you should really review some of the training videos that are available on the market. Clinton Anderson is good, but my personal favorite is Dennis Reis.
You want to make sure you are not dragging their head around to you, you only want to apply steady pressure and let the horse do the work himself. You want to work both sides of the horse, as they have two brains, one for each side of their body.
He will likely spin like a top when you start, keep on his hip and stay with him. Keep up the steady pressure and bend him until he stops. If his feet are moving, the break doesn't count. When all four feet are stopped, and he gives his head, THEN drop the rein and give him a moment to think about it before you start again.


Brooks Gaited Horse Training