RE: Gaited horses and endurance

["Susan Brehm" <RockingB@worldnet.att.net>]

Rachael,
I have a Rocky Mountain Horse, we're both new to endurance.
He's my first gaited horse, I was surprised to find that it
took me 2 months before I stopped thinking I'd made a big
mistake!  We're getting along great now though.  It's a
little awkward training with trotting horses.  We walk the
same speed but he can't gait as fast as most endurance
horses trot so he usually canters to keep up (I've talked to
some people with gaited horses who have the same problem,
and some who didn't).  It's a very relaxed slow canter,
doesn't seem to be a problem.  I'd like to speed up his gait
a little but when I ask he just seems to raise his front end
and start really pumping his shoulders so we don't cover any
more ground.  He's great fun to ride though and I'm sure
we'll be able to complete rides within the limit (let's hear
it for those great Turtle awards!).  I think he's got a lot
of potential for CTRs as well.  All the gaited horses seem
to be able to just go and go and go, and they love going
somewhere besides around an arena.  Especially if they come
from a show background.

SusanB


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