While breeding plays a large part and there are some walking horses
that will always be lateral, there are some things you can do to square
them up. The best thing I have found is dressage training and all the
other methods - ground poles, calvaletties, etc. to get them balanced,
rounded and go softly on the bit.
I also like to train them to jump since that also helps get them round
and balanced. Any lateral gait is to some extend a hollow back gait and
is not all that great for endurance. If your horse is round and on it
bit it is difficult to pace.
I remember one of the best endurance vets you'll find anywhere asking
me one time when I was checking in the mare if she trotted or paced.
She was on the trotty side and had a nice one to - could also jump 4
feet. He said that was good because gaited horses that were pacey
didn't generally do well in endurance.
Her running walk wasn't extremely fast but it was easy and smooth and
no letting her trot didn't hurt it one bit. The trot was just faster.
Truman
Ed Kilpatrick wrote:
hi mike, ray is right on target. so much of it is in the
breeding. there may be some "tricks" that help a bit with gait, but
you are fighting an uphill battle trying to get a horse that paces to
do a four beat.
however, one thing with gaited horses that is simple but
important, keep their head up! with a young horse, keeping the head
up is more important than the collection, at least to begin with.
younger horses, those just started under saddle, have to get accustomed
to carrying the weight of the rider, and often break gait because of
that.
the collection, or breaking over at the poll, that you speak of,
is best achieved by lots of lateral flexion work with your horse.
i havent seen a pacey peruvian paso yet. the ones i have ridden
had a real good, natural four beat gait. one thing that i see in the
peruvians is really good "rear drive".
most of my horses are paso finos, with a nice, natural four
beat gait. with them, i just havent seen the pacey gait you are
describing, either. ed
-- "It is necessary to be noble, and yet take humility as a basis
"It
is necessary to be noble, and yet
take humility as a basis.
It is necessary
to be exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
