Gaited vs Ungaited... Reality Check

[Samjen]

Originally Posted by Gaiting Naturally

what gives "ungaited" folks a monopoly on dressage? of course due to conformation differences & footfall a gaited horse doing dressage will never look like an "ungaited" doin it. just like an "ungaited" horse will never be as smooth as a gaited one. so each breed has pros and cons, but to monopolize something like dressage for "ungaited" horses is what annoys us gaited folks.

Because in mainstream dressage a trot is required. Now a gaited horse can do dressage but to put them in the same class as an ungaited horse would cause a problem. When the test says trot from A to C it would be hard to evaluate and pin a horse that did something else. As it stands right now in the rules it would be a 2 point penalty because they would not produce the correct gait. I totally think the addition of dressage classes at gaited shows are cool. Its also fairer and easier to judge (I'm talking gaits not saying its easier).


Of course I know people that have taught their TWHs to trot but I thought that was a BIG no no.

[downsouth2]

I remember when Cindy got Charlie at her place for training. He is an Appendix QH. When she told me he was built for speed, etc. I laughed, I always thought of him as clumsy and slow, a plow horse type.

Ha! I saw him take off across the pasture the other day and that guy can MOVE!

First time in 16 yrs I have owned him that he moved really fast, I still don't know what motivated him.

[perform]

Originally Posted by Samjen

Of course I know people that have taught their TWHs to trot but I thought that was a BIG no no.

Well, it certainly is in my book.
No better way to bastardize a running walk than to trot your horse.
Even the best and most naturally gaited will develop a slight "bump" in their gait if trotted enough.

[Gaiting Naturally]

Originally Posted by Samjen

Because in mainstream dressage a trot is required. Now a gaited horse can do dressage but to put them in the same class as an ungaited horse would cause a problem.

i think that the gaited world has own tests written to account for the non trot.

[loganisle]

UGH. There are so many things I'd like to say but I'm not sure if I should.

My basic thought is, sure gaited horses may not have been bred to be the BEST at dressage or wrangling cows or even speed games, but they CAN do it and some can do it quite well.

What I get irritated about is people who think that, just because a horse is "gaited", that horse must not be able to do anything but trail ride.

Most gaited horses were chosen originally for their gate, true enough, but they were the work horses of many a poor folk. The Rockies were developed this way actually. They are designed to survive in cooler climates when there is no grass or hay; they had to pull carriages, plows, and haul folks to where ever they needed to be as well as babysitting the kids on occassion. To ME this means that if I really wanted to, I could hook my Rocky up to a plow and really get something done!

Dont' forget that there are also those horses that actually belong to a different breed but who seem to be gaited crop outs, so to speak. I have a QH bred APHA who gaits like a champ! However he was actually designed to cut cows and do speed games.

Would these types also fall into the "gaiteds are really only bred for a smooth ride" type of thinking? Or are these in a whole different category altogether?

[MOVOS]

Here's a walking horse doing dressage and people are cheering. There is no question that many, many hours have been spent in the partnership that these two have, but...........You be the judge.

http://www.walkinonranch.com/media/6_2007_MNFS_Rev_7-07.wmv

I love Christine (my paso mare), and she can do a very nice, three beat collected canter. But, I think it would screw up her trail gait a lot if I really worked her in dressage (as I know it.)

[perform]

I personally think ALL of the gaited breeds are relatively versatile, with some standouts, such as the RMHs, KMHs, and MFT which seem even more varied in their athletic abilities and talents... probably due to their breed standard conformation which tends to the more traditional side.

What I disagree with is lowering the standards of traditionally "ungaited" disciplines to accomodate shortcomings which are rooted in "type" or conformation amongst well-gaited horses.

Which poses yet another question:

Has anyone except me noticed that it seems like the MORE naturally gaited a horse is, and the better he performs the more challenging gaits... the LESS ability he seems to have for using himself in an entirely different manner?

For example:
I trained a SSH a few years back which was built more like a QH.
He developed a nice singlefoot gait, but never much more.
He does very well at reiniing, does a fabulous sliding stop, sits back on those strong hindquarters, does perfect loping departs, etc...

He gaited, but not with tons of talent...

By the same token, I had an award winning TWH in here that had a natural overreach to die for, biggest flat walk I've ever ridden, and probably the smoothest TWH I've ever sat on...

BUT there was no way this gorgeous to-die-for horse could have EVER pulled off a reining pattern like the SSH could.

Does a top-notch natural gait in a TWH compromise other abilities?

Does a SSH horse with less natural gait and more "ungaited conformation" have a chance competeing on equal terms with ungaited horses in their own traditional disciplines?

Feedback?

[Samjen]

Originally Posted by MOVOS

Here's a walking horse doing dressage and people are cheering. There is no question that many, many hours have been spent in the partnership that these two have, but...........You be the judge.

http://www.walkinonranch.com/media/6_2007_MNFS_Rev_7-07.wmv

Thanks for sharing movo that was neat. I wonder what that would be called? A Tennessee Passage/Piaffe? Or a Wassage/Waiffe?

[loganisle]

Speaking of the SSH. . . up until the last year or two the SSH studbooks were wide open meaning that ANY spotted horse who also happened to gait (like my APHA boy) could be registered as SSH. Keeping this in mind, how many of these colored gaited stock horse breeds do you think got into the SSH stud books?

I think this might be a bit of a "muddy" subject area because you may need to specifically differentiate between the purebred gaited horse (meaning the horse is actually of TWH, RMH, MFT, etc. heritage/pedigree) and the "average joe" or stock bred horse who also happens to gait even though it's not in his particular breed standard.

It would certainly change the direction of this thread if we were to discuss the QHs and APHAs who are bred for cows or speed but who also can gait.

Originally Posted by perform

For example:
I trained a SSH a few years back which was built more like a QH.
He developed a nice singlefoot gait, but never much more.
He does very well at reiniing, does a fabulous sliding stop, sits back on those strong hindquarters, does perfect loping departs, etc...

[AlishaFL1]

Originally Posted by Samjen

Thanks for sharing movo that was neat. I wonder what that would be called? A Tennessee Passage/Piaffe? Or a Wassage/Waiffe?

I was just thinking along those lines! ha ha..
I am not a gaited horse person. I have had my arse on two my entire life. I would love to own a TW, one day, when I am older and grayer.. OH boy, I am really stepping in it, aren't I? Well I wasn't going to comment and maybe I should just continue to keep my big dumb mouth (fingers) shut.. but .. ha ha.. I can't help it.. So get out your bats and get ready... ha ha..

Ok, just an observation, (and I was pretty impressed with the video too) She had the Piaffe or was it Passage down and the Canter, Lead Changes and Canter turn around.. whatever it's call (BAVERIA HELP) haha but what about the other parts of the dressage test? I did distinguish an extension too but there was something missing from that test and I can't put my finger on it because I am not a dressage person either.. but I bet some of these other dressage people can.. like Baveria...... Ok I'll shut up about the video cause I clearly only know enough to get hit with bats..

Anyway, I am all for new events and sports when it comes to the horse world! So why not a dressage FOR GAITED HORSES??? They could CREATE standards for the gaited horse (instead of lowering them in the traditional dressage) and they could call it something like Gaissage! (pronounced GAY-SAGE) It's probably already been done, but if not, you could form an association and hold events and stuff. I bet there would be interest from the gaited world..

Ok.. sorry, go ahead and beat me up... ... I like it rough!