What do I even have pasos for?UPDATE pg.4

[Moniece Dickerson]

The one I do have that can be ridden trots and who wants a paso that trots.I have two mares out there and for what?One isn't started and the other i've sunk more than she's worth into trying to get her so I would enjoy riding her and still don't like to ride her.She can gait and would gait if a trainer had her but that doesn't do me any good,i'm not a trainer and I don't want to work on training,I WANT TO GAIT,I want to go gaiting!If I sell her I lose my a$$,if I don't I keep feeding her and who's gonna trade a naturally good gaited good trail horse for one that trots,noone!And the other I don't have the money to put training on to even see if she'd be a good and safe ride.I swear,it sucks to be me,pasos out there and not one I can or want to ride and right up on this mountain with all this beautiful country.Two mares and I doubt I could even get a good trail gelding for the both of them.It's been so long since i've gotten to even ride a gaiting paso that it's sickening.I'm sorry I know this post isn't good for newbies to read but i'm sick and tired of wanting to beable to saddle up and go smoothly gaiting and not being able to.Moniece

[Mellifluous]

Find a trainer/farm that has a trail gelding that gaits and trade them 2 mares for him - I mean, heck, you know one of them can gait just needs work and the other one is a proven broodmare. They have some value for someone. They can then train the mares/work on gait and resell. You might find someone that is willing to work a deal with you.

[SandyMM]

I have to ask... did you know the mares didn't gait when you bought them? Did they ever gait? Sometimes new riders to Pasos expect a trot-feeling gait and inadvertently set the horse to 'lean' that way. Other times, horses that have inferior gait tendencies are passed down the 'food chain of knowledge' to more and more unsuspeecting buyers. The seller may not even be aware of the problem if s/he didn't have the horse long or never rode it. It isn't enough to get any Paso - you have to be sure that the Paso you get does what you want it to do and be prepared to pay a fair price for it.

Cut your losses and sell now to someone who doesn't care if they gait... if it was me, I would probably withhold the papers and sell as unregistered so the non-gaiiting stock would not go back into the registered gene pool. That's _assuming_ you are _positive_ these horses won't gait.

It's a bitter lesson. The good ones rarely come cheap up front, but they sure pay for themselves down the road in more riding miles per dollar expended...

[JennLM]

I feel your pain.

We had 3 horses we could not ride (1 rescue, 1 arthritis, 1 too young) and bought more we could not ride. He rushed and bought the 2 ASB's (which we are trying to trade or sell and will lose our a$$) and have 2 yearlings. So I am just as nuts as he was. We are egoing to get 2 older ridable horses no matter how long we have to wait. I am tired of having horses and not being able to ride.

Which is better, losing a bit of money to gain what you really want or being unhappy the whole time? We spent more money on being unhappy then anything. All the food, hoof trims, shots, etc etc on ones we could not ride then finding one we will be able to.

I bet you could find a gelding like was said earlier and trade up. Sometimes you have to pay a small price for happiness. We are finding that out.

[Mellifluous]

Sandy- I think one of them gaits but is not started and the other one is started but does not gait consistently...did I read it right? I wouldn't want to strip them of their papers just yet!

[SandyMM]

Sandy- I think one of them gaits but is not started and the other one is started but does not gait consistently...did I read it right? I wouldn't want to strip them of their papers just yet!
I would not automatically strip papers... only on those proven not to gait and therefore a huge detriment to the breed.

Unfortunately, the Colombians have 5 years to establish their horses' preferred 'modalitiy' - and some of them never gait - but they have a place for them.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Sandy,the one that is started I bought young and yes she gaited when I bought her.Towards the end of the four months of training I put her in he had her gaiting but not consistantly then I could not figure out what he did to get her back into gait so she would just trot and since I don't like to trot I rarely ever ride her.She acts great when I do and she loves the trails but I want to gait,not just walk or trot.And the other I am sure would gait she is paso fino and peruvian paso but I don't have the money right now to have her started wich would not be a problem if the other were enjoyable to ride.I bought the cross in foal and got my Rosalita from her.I love her it's just that I want SOMETHING I can enjoy riding.If I were a trainer or wanted to be the first mare would be great.Your friend,Moniece

[appyday]

Do you RIDE them or are you a passenger? Condesa will trot on someone that is a passinger...she gaits for someone that can make her use herself..

[Barbwire]

Awww, someone needs a hug. Poor Moniece! http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/4.gif

[Jasfino]

Monience about the your horse that trots but did gait at one time. What worked with me and Jasper was alot of walking before we started trying to gait. It took alot of time before he would go into his gait consistently. If I rode and asked for speed at first he would be all over the place... so I stopped asking for speed and just walked him alot. Then I would ask for a corto after a while of walking and sometimes he would get it.. sometimes he would trot. If he hit the trot.. I would immediatly bring him back down to a walk. It was hard at first to figure out what he was doing.. but I did recognize the trot... ;-) I am no expert but I would bet that your mare just needs more time and practice before she will gait consistently. ((((hugs))))) We all get discouraged at times.

[Linda Y]

I feel your pain!
How attached are you to the mares? I bet if you ask around you will find someone willing to trade you a nice gelding for them. People looking for breeding stock don't care if they are broke to ride. If the mares are good blooded, you should find a taker.

[appyday]

I have Bubba :D

[Terri]

Wait a minute! Lets see if I got this straight. Chica is 100% paso, but is trotty, but gaited when you 1st got her.
Cola is 1/2 peruvian, 1/2 paso, she probably gaits but needs training as she has yet to be even backed? But both are sound and healthy.
And Rosalita is way to young.

I think you just have some work cut out for you. Jen is right about the walking. Take Chica out in that beautiful country and walk, walk, walk. Walking is the same 4 beat gait as a corto. As she builds these muscles you can ask for a faster gait. As long as it is smooth keep going, when she trots, bring her back to a walk and start over. keep doing it. Long tedious work, but think of all that nice country you have to look at while doing it.

Then as soon as you have Rosa weaned, send Cola out for 30 days training. didn't you buy her from a farm in OK? Send her there. Then when she comes home start taking her for walk-a-bouts. It might take a year or more but you could end up with a couple of very nice mares for your effort.

Or,you could trade both of them for Bubba.

[pasogalinbama]

Moniece i have a big gray mare that is super on the trail and gaits like crazy but i have just got her gaiting right, she would poke her nose out and be heavy on the front, i put her back in a nose band and double reins, moved my saddle back a little, got her head up and nose in by just little bumps with the nose band, pushed her butt up under her and she is now a dream to ride. i started out being a little work but now she does it natural.

[Brigitte]

You can get her to gait...you just need time to figure out what to do, but since you said you don't ride her much because she trots you won't figure it out soon. I had a horse who paced...that was just horrible and bouncy, then he started gaiting little by little and now he's pretty much consistent.

[PasoVicki]

Towards the end of the four months of training I put her in he had her gaiting but not consistantly then I could not figure out what he did to get her back into gait so she would just trot and since I don't like to trot I rarely ever ride her.

Maybe it would be a good start to ask the trainer what he did to get her into gait and what you're doing differently. It could be something as simple as the way you're holding the reins. Then, as others have suggested, try riding her more often and bringing her back to a walk every time she starts to trot. I know you're discouraged -- but anyone who can hand feed a foal for as long as you had to hand feed your beautiful little filly has it in her to do this, too!

[Edurne]

it could be something as simple as fitness level of the horse - Primero trots when he is unfit - when he is fit he can gait up some very good hills. Terry gave a very good working programme and as Brigitte said, results will only be shown if the work is put in - karma in action.

[Bonnie M]

Are you still in contact with the trainer who trained your horse that used to gait?

You should try talking to him/her, maybe you could get them to come out and take a look while you are riding. They may not even charge you since they trained the horse, or maybe a small fee just to come out and help you.

The mare may just need to be conditioned more, have her muscles built back up in order to be back in gait consistently. I believe it's harder for them to gait than to trot. So if she is being lazy then she will trot.

[Moniece Dickerson]

No, the guy that trained her moved to Alaska and quit training.His wife wanted to move there as that is where part of her family lives.I guess i'll start getting on her and going for walks to get her conditioned then see what I can do or find a trade.Something.Your friend,Moniece

[Terri]

Moniece, you need to check out the thread under the newbie corral on "how smooth". Lori posted a great explanation on how a rider can effect gait. It could be you need some "brush up" lessons. go read the thread.

[Serendipity]

Another thing I did was take lessons see if there are any paso people around you call them see if they would be willing to help you with your horse.You just need to find someone that knows "gait".It sure has helped me out a lot.
Some time trainer will come out for a half day you pay their expences(gas and lesson) and when they leave you have stuff to work on till you have them come again.Its a whole lot cheaper than training and you come away feeling fulfilled.

[LynnG]

I'd suggest riding lesson with a paso instructor so you can have your form correct....exlain to them your situation and your end goal. There very well could not be any problem with your horses. You need to be committed to conditioning the horse...and proper form before asking more. Its simply not magic with horses. I do a whole lot of ground training and conditioning before ever riding much...a green horse. The horse has to learn to regain its balance with a riders weight aboard!

[motorgypsy]

Moniece have faith in yourself and the horses. You can get her to gait yourself.

Here's a little of our story

We bought this great big rawboned PPR mare whose gait would jar the fillings out of your teeth. We weren't sure she'd gait at all but we got a trainer to ride her and he showed us that she did. We bought her for one reason - her size - because we had guests that were too large for our other paso finos.

Now let's jump to five years later. It turns out that this PPR mare is top of the line PPR fino and her natural fino gait is totally amazing - just no largo yet because she's not in shape and she's born and bred to fino. We were pushing her too fast so she'd pace - HORRIBLE! But ask her to do the gait she was bred for and she does it!

Chinook used to be very rough and heavy on the forehand. We rode her in speed shows and endurance rides at a canter and gallop. Now she's smooth as silk and has a largo to die for also. She just needed more muscle.

Get out and ride her. If you're a good rider then teach her her to canter on cue only. Get her in shape. Work her in circles and on hills. If she trots you lift her or take her back to a walk. There are two techniques to get gait if you have the right headgear and saddle and aren't sitting way over her neck. You take them up from a walk and if they trot you slow them into gait - OR - you take them into a canter and slow them into gait. If one doesn't work the other will. Enjoy! They usually do have great canters and gallops too!

[Jasfino]

You can do this Moniece if you have the time to ride.

I thought about sending Jasper to a trainer but I am glad I didnt..... because then I wouldnt have had the satisfaction of knowing I could do it myself. And.. we are all trainers..everytime we work around/with our horses we are training it in one way or another. I kind of thought about it like this.. Sure I can walk.. but how would my walk be affected if I were carrying a 50 pound kid on my back? Probably quite a bit... so if you think about it like that it makes sense that it takes mainly time and conditioning for them to be able to have that good gait under saddle.

You will be so glad that you gave it your all and believed in yourself and your horse. I know you will. :D

[Moniece Dickerson]

Motorgypsy's when I slow her from a trot she goes to a walk.She has an AWESOME smooth canter,when I touch heel to her she walks,touch heel again she trots,touch heel again she canters.Slow her from canter she trots :roll: .On a hard surface when I touch heel the first time sometimes I can get a few steps of gait before trot.She doesn't want to do any more work than she HAS to.I guess i'm just going to have to start riding her at a walk and getting her right into a canter untill she is conditioned and I can ask for more.Your friend,Moniece

[motorgypsy]

Ahhhhh - OK then you go to plan B which is to try what the saddlebred people do - you slightly pull the head from side to side in between the cadence of the trot to break it up. You also trot the horse across cavaletti sp? to break the trot. Do some internet searching on them and how to use them. We're in the same position with our florida Cracker gelding. He also trots and does gait but not a lot. To get him to gait we have to slow his trot almost to a walk and he'll start breaking the trot. Once they figure out what you want they'll do it more. The problem is to get them to do it in the first place. The other thing some do is put shoes on the front feet only ( I think it's front for trotty and rear for pacey but Imight have it backwards??) I honestly think either would work. You can also experiement with hoof angles - go a little higher or lower on the front hooves - not enough to cause her to be sure but just a little to break the trot. Good luck and have fun. Just ride and enjoy! CAntering is fun!

[LynnG]

shoe the rear for trotty....you need to get her back end under her.if she is troting she is heavy on the front end and most likely carrying her neck low and strung out behind/ try a headlifter withbosal and two reins

[Terry Wallace]

Whoa now..... !! Wait just a minute! Lets back up the bus.....
Monice.... I have to say what others are avoiding saying.... you "had" a mare that gaited.... what you are LIKELY dealing with is RIDER ERROR.

Rider error can account for lots of horses not gaiting. FIRST..I would suggest you evaluate YOUR abilities. Do you ride that horse every minute...do you mount up and RIDE...or do you get on and literally "throw the horse away" expecting it to gait perfectly, after it has not been ridden, been raising a baby, is not in shape for riding, and then blame the horse for every mis-step?

What would happen if you took it to a trainer? Let me explain.... the trainer likely would have good gait in a week or two...because he/she would be riding that horse every minute, sitting correctly, guiding the horse to come into gait "on demand". BECAUSE...a trainer is very aware of how to get good gait, how to sit correctly, how to keep the horse framed up, how to drive the horse forward from the rear.... the trainer does not "throw the horse away".....a trainer helps the horse to see its potential.

Now...bring the horse home...what happens....generally, the same ole' thing...you did not change anything you do when riding, you get back on, expect the horse to ride as well for you as it did for the trainer, and it doesn't happen, and soon you are right back to square one.

Please don't automatically blame the horse..when it may well be your riding style. Just some facts from a long-time trainer of horses. I cannot tell you how many times I've seen this very same scenario happen. The fact is...few people have the TIME, or will put forth the effort to achieve that perfect horse-rider partnership. If the only time you spend with your horses is to feed them, and maybe ride them once in a while...you can count on never getting to the goal you seek. It all comes down to what you are willing to put into it.

Please be aware that MOST of the time...it is RIDER ERROR.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! Consider that it just might not be the horse (entirely).....
;-)

[Camilla]

I'd like to second what Terry said... which is what I was thinking. But I'd like to add a big hug with it, too Moniece... because you are a dear. But it is a fact... these are animals, not ATVs and it will take some effort on your behalf to make it the relationship you are dreaming of. People have given you some great tips here on stuff to try. Just keep riding and keep trying and make that dream happen. :)

[Pasogirlz]

Another observation of mine....is that the rider DOES make a huge difference in the way the horse moves. The hand position, the seat angles, leg pressure and position. And the hard part is that it can vary from horse to horse what is needed to achieve that particular horses personal best.

For example, I ride Tequila and he tends to have a much shorter show stride either fino or corto and I have had trouble getting a good largo from him. But when Mom rides him, all she can get is a strong largo or fast corto. But she has more experiece riding the trails relaxed and I have the trainers yelling at me to push the horse, work the horse etc. Now when I ride her mare, she gets a little hot and hoppy and only levels out if I let her out more. When mom rides her she is calm and smooth at her medium corto and fabulous largo.

I have also witnessed show horses make huge changes in the hands of different trainers and their riding/training styles.

[CarolU]

Moniece..who are the nearest trainers to you? What you need is to attend a clinic or take Chica AND you to a trainers and have them teach YOU how to ride her correctly. What Terry says is absolutely true. Chica is still a young horse and still learning. This is not her fault. I am sure she is out of condition too. You need to do lots of circles and serpentines, hills if you live near any, and get her hind end muscles built up again. Then collect her up and I'll bet she'll gait just fine.

[GeorgeGuns]

Aw Moniece, bad paso days really are the pits.

Can you get someone to post video of you here, or work with you that way? Sometimes it helps to have a visual for yourself too and then when someone points out what you need to do, you have a great reference.

This may sound crazy, but it might help to take some good dressage lessons with the goal of learning to feel what a horse is doing and to learn how to help it frame up and use its body. I had to get Medias out of tropt mode when I got him, and he will still trot for folks that aren't paso savvy. I spent a LOT of time doing serpentines and circles and spirals in walk, and then walking down hills before asking for gait down hills. (down hill breaks up trot, up hill breaks up pace) I had to move his saddle back at least an inch, he's long backed and really it makes a big difference. I had to forever keep after him to keep his head up cuz when it goes down he does a lovely hunter trot (ew). Its not jsut doing these things though, the timing is important with how you support the circles etc and how you ask for gait.

I wouldn't give up on these horses, I'd get help.

[Blair]

Moniece,
I am still a newbie to the forum somewhat and I feel your pain and frustration! I have had my mare for 4 years. She was green when I purchased her and did gait. Unfortunately I had to board my horses and didn't get to ride nearly often enough. When we moved to our property two years ago and I really started riding I realized we weren't connecting and getting gait even with more riding.

I have read a lot on this forum and others as a lurker for the past year and started riding with a friend. There wasn't a paso trainer near here so I just keep absorbing and trying what I learn on the forums.

I have discovered that my problem is multifaceted - my mare was out of shape (and inherently a bit lazy), I was not riding her in a good position (have someone take pics and video), and her feet were not right (the farrier was letting her get way too long on the toe and she wasn't balanced). Just this Spring things are starting to connect. The feet are being fixed (barefoot but with the right balance and angles), I am working on my posture on her (remember that her back will mimic your back and a hollowed back is not good for gaiting). Also I have gone back to the bosal where I can bump her head up to get her off her forehand, walk her as fast as she can without breaking into a trot, canter and down transition, circle, circle, etc.

All of these have been mentioned and sometimes you just have to put them together to get it going. My lazy mare had to loose weight, be worked regularly while I work myself on her (oh do I hate to see what I am really doing in the pictures) but it is paying off! Hang in there girl.......we gaited last week several times finally and on cue....we are getting it now but have so much more work to do!!! It has taken a good 6 months to get there with twice a week riding (arena mixed with trail) so it isn't an overnight fix!

Now get out there and ride!
Blair

[Moniece Dickerson]

Oh I can asure you that I have been part of the problem...maybe most of it.When I put her in training I wanted her to come out consistantly gaited,like I have seen other pasos do,no matter the rider.I saw Mariquita,my previous filly do it.I know they are all individuals but knowing that when you're frustrated and throwing a fit in your own way.When I tried a couple of things trying to get her back in gait and it didn't work I stoped riding her except once in a great while.Well i've been throwing my i'm NOT going to train when she should be gaiting naturally anyway fit for a very long time now and it's time for me to get over it and accept that i'm going to have to if I want her to gait and consistantly.I mightaswell do it instead of trying to trade the mares off.When it comes down to it I love them and i'd miss them and that would be unfair to them.I have to say that I learned early on in Chica's training just how important posture is when I got on her the first time in training and she took off with me and the trainer let me know I was leaning back a little and she thought I wanted to GO when I asked him what I did wrong so although it might be something else I do wrong that i'll have to figure out I don't think it's posture.I guess I just had to throw my last little fit when I finally decided I was going to HAVE to do something and blamed it on her when i'm mostlikely the one at fault for her not gaiting consistantly by now and having lots of experience.Your friend,Moniece

[SandyMM]

Well i've been throwing my i'm NOT going to train when she should be gaiting naturally anyway fit for a very long time now and it's time for me to get over it and accept that i'm going to have to if I want her to gait and consistantly.
The sad truth is that there some Pasos who - for whatever reasons (breeding being paramount) - simply will never gait consistently. Yes, a trained professional who is good at 'fixing' gait can get them in gait and keep them in gait... but from a 'been there, used to do that' perspective - it is never fun or cost-free for horse, trainer, or owner. I would suggest that you take a very hard look at what you really want and need.... Many times people would be so much better off cutting their losses, selling what clearly doesn't work for them, and spending the money on training for themselves with the goal of purchasing that one good horse at a later date.

It's a cruel and bitter pill, but just may be what is best in the long run...

[LynnG]

moniece, can you post some pics of you riding them... also what type of saddle and headgear are you using?????????????

[Serendipity]

Monice,
perhaps this will help the next time the shoer comes out be sure he can measure her angles this will help. because I still own Chica's grand parents and I owned her father and started her mother.I can give you there hoof angles,when the shoer comes out have her saddled and tell him ahead of time that you and to adjust angles so you can try her out see if you can get gait that way.

Vince front 53,back 52
Leah 52 all around
Lakota 52 all around
Poet 50 in front,back 51

hope that helps also saddle postion si key also put a pick on let others see what your used to seeing and that my help.Sandy helped me a ton and one show I was sitting to far forward on Prueba we were last in all the classes we entered,she showed me and told me what I was doing wrong and helped me that night(I owe you big Sandy)and guess what the next day we won our class with a first and second that was very rewarding.

another Idea if you have a trailer maybe take her to a show don't ride in classes but take her for the experance and talk to people thats one good way to see lots of trainer in one spot see how they handle there horse if you like ask them if theyed have time to give you a few pointers after the classes are over you could get 3plus lessons in 3 days and at not a lot of cost.
Just and Idea

[Serendipity]

Also please know Monice I would love to come out and help but afford to lose my A/O status yet :(

[Brigitte]

You said you touch heel and she will trot, the canter. What if you kiss to her? Just play around with the reins a bit..that can also help

[Moniece Dickerson]

Yes,I will get some pictures to post,might take me a few days to get someone to take pics of me on her.

Lynn G,I have an original Bob Marshal and i'm using the polly trainer complete without a bit

Brigitte,I kiss to her first but she pays no attention to a kiss.It's when you touch heel to her that she knows she really does have to start moving.Maybe I should kiss and touch heel till she will go from just a kiss?Playing with the reigns makes absolutely no difference with her nor does bumping her up.I would like to teach her to bump up back into gait once i'm getting more than a few steps of gait when I do get it.

Something worth mentioning I think is when she gets nervous or excited all of the sudden she can gait.I particularly remember going through a covered bridge with her,she was nervous and gaited like a dream.Then another time as we came up by some horses in a pasture all of the sudden she could gait.I do have to say when she gaits she is smoooth and I LOVE IT!!

Nicole,sweetie you have been so wonderful and I know if you could help you really would.Between me getting over my fit and accepting the responsibility and the wonderful people here improvement is sure to come.

Chica and I will be doing circles and serpentines begining in the morning.I'll be sure to post how it goes.Your friend,Moniece

[DebbieS]

Wow.... I just read this entire post and your attitude has changed so much, Moniece. I'm proud of you.

When I got Listo, he had never been ridden. I got him started under saddle but couldn't get him to gait unless he was excited or nervous. I knew he could do it, because I saw him do it in the pasture all the time. So.... I sent him to Lindsey for 3 months. He is always in gait now. I don't think he remembers how to trot - lol. You'll get there, just be patient. Listo was 9 years old when he was started!

[Minouri]

Moniece,

At the risk of being fired apon by serious Paso people, I'm not sure what the frustration comes from.

Scooter came to me trotting pretty consistantly. What am I missing? Are you trying to sell anyof them as gaited horses? Is it for health reasons? Are you intending to show them? How bad IS the trott?

I'm probably the least knowledgable Paso person on this board. Half the time I'm not even sure what Scooter's feet are doing down there. I guage his gait by how I do or don't bounce.

Scooter gets smoother............

...with his bit when I add some collection.

.....the more I ride him with his bit. (Which I do only about 5% of the time :confused )

....when I walk him a lot then ask him to move up one speed then transition back down to a walk. I believe that's because it gives him time to build up the muscles he needs.

.....when I canter him then bring him down one speed he's soooooooo smooth. His feet go about a million miles and hour and he gets all excited. ...Now I did hear a lot from people in the beginning about not cantering at all until the gaits were set. I don't know both sides of that debate.

......when I ask him to bend around trees or flex often.......seems to loosen up his neck and he gaits smoother.


I didn't have any local Paso people that I could afford when I got Scooter. I took dressage lessons instead. Luckily my trainer was open to learning about Pasos first. We spent a lot of time working on Scooter's gait. You should have seen him that year. So buff and smooth.

My trainer was pulling out her hair when she came to visit me and I was back in just the halter running through fields bareback.

Scooter is not a showhorse. He may not even make one of the parades from here. But to me he is the perfect horse. He brings me joy everyday. When he tosses me a trott it doesn't bother me. I just stop him and start over.

IMHO you need to get on that horse and ride her and enjoy her. Then as the two of you bond in the saddle play around with transitions and your reins and seat.

Because of all of this talk of smoothness of gait I've been riding Scooter daily with his bit. Yesterday was the first "sports bra free" day. Yep, not sure that's a technical Paso term but that's how I know he's got it. When I can wear a regular Victoria Secret's bra and not bounce.

A month from now I'll probably be riding him in just his halter again. I like how free he feels beneath me when we run around without his bit. With his bit he seems to take everything very seriously.....I never see his sense of humor.

I taped day one with his bit for you Moniece. I have to find the software to upload. Then I'll tape a nonbounce day. Not sure if it will help you, but it might show you to not give up. There might be something I do that I don't realize that you'll notice. We assume it's THEM but so often it's how WE ride. Don't know if I have the nerve to post it here...not sure I could withstand the riding critiques....but if you want me to send them to you I will.

Scooter is my best friend, but he's not the type to gait regardless of his rider. I've ridden Foxtrotters that were push button smoother gaiters, yet I wouldn't trade him for the world. Give you and your mare a chance to really bond.

And if you can find someone who knows how to ride a Paso. I wish I'd had someone here when I started.

[CarolU]

Because of all of this talk of smoothness of gait I've been riding Scooter daily with his bit. Yesterday was the first "sports bra free" day. Yep, not sure that's a technical Paso term but that's how I know he's got it. When I can wear a regular Victoria Secret's bra and not bounce.


ROFL...I don't think this is how 'most' people guage smoothness, but hey, if it works for your! LOL

Sandy has a T-shirt that says "WHY BOUNCE?" in big bold letters. You usually follow that with several lines of "taca taca taca taca"... A well-endowed friend bought the shirt and forgot the other conotation of bouncing, until she wore it at home and realized what people would think she meant.

I know Coreeen, I mean George, has everone here trained to call them ninnies, and ta tas are something else. But my husband calls them ta tas and LOVES it when I take the horses to the big arena for practice...says I'm the only one without bouncing ta tas. :D ;-)

[Pasogirlz]

ROFL...I don't think this is how 'most' people guage smoothness, but hey, if it works for your! LOL

That's how I judge it. ;-)

When I first started riding Eclipse, his gait was all over the place. I could always tell when he was in, a tad out, or WAY out of gait by the jiggle. He is smoothest when very collected. But if he is let out, he still gaits, but it looses some of the smooth IMO.

[Minouri]

I'm so glad I could add something useful here :rofl Just need 99 more helpful hints and I'll write my own Paso training manual......

Chapter One

Using your ta tas to guage gait...... (Photos included?)

[Edurne]

:PICS

[Moniece Dickerson]

Minouri you are SO funny :rofl !No I wasn't gonna sell them for health reasons,I was going to trade them both for one consistantly well gaited gelding so I wouldn't have to work on all the training to get her gaiting consistantly.I really HATE to trot and Chica has a very rough trot on top of that.I got over my fit though and i'm going to start working with her regularly starting today.It's a good thing I don't have big ta ta's,with her trot i'd of had a black eye every time I rode her but you're right,there is no bounce when she gaits.I know exactly what gait,trocha,and trot feel like and can feel it as soon as they start.If anything she did was as smooth as when she gaits I wouldn't mind that either but nothing is as smooth as when she gaits infact she's just down right rough out of gait.I won't mind if I always forever have to check her back into gait as long as she goes right back into gait.Glad to hear your boy is gaiting smooth for you :D !Your friend,Moniece

[CarolU]

You know Moniece, regardless of if you want to be a trainer or not, the truth is you train a horse every time you put a halter on it. A horse never quits learning and they learn bad things right along with good things.

Better that you learn how to do things right and consistently, and then all your 'training' will be good. It is often the more difficult horses that teach us the most. Once you get Chica gaiting consistently, when Rosarita goes under saddle, you'll have good habits and it will all come very easy.

[SarahR]

You know Moniece, regardless of if you want to be a trainer or not, the truth is you train a horse every time you put a halter on it. A horse never quits learning and they learn bad things right along with good things.



That is so true, anyone handling horses is a horse trainer, to the horse anyway. Each time you handle them you are either teaching them to be easier to be handled, or harder.

[Minouri]

Gotta say Carol you are so right. My old trainer used to say that.....that everytime you deal with your horse you are teaching it something.

My horses just recently learned that a good hard stare and a soft call makes my neighbor come over. Until our run in is finished he's been putting the horses away for me when the weather gets bad.

The other day it started to drizzle. We had a graduation party that was interrupted by light rain....and I had no intention of putting them in unless it got bad but they ran for the fence between my property and the neighbors and they called for HIM......I was laughing my butt off. Out of the house came my retired neighbor and he asked if he could put them in till it cleared up. They followed him with heads held up proud. He put them back out when the rain stopped. He says if he forgets to put them back out he can hear them calling to him from the barn.

I feed them and put them in and out on a schedule. I don't run when they call. Amazing how they know just what to do with who.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Yes thats true but it is so much easier and so much more enjoyable when they already know the stuff you're doing with them and even when they fight you you know they know it but are just fighting you.Like Chica with flexing,she HATES to flex and always gave the trainer a problem too BUT I don't mind working on it with her even though she fights me because I KNOW she knows what to do.I think what I hate so much about training undersaddle is the communication part...does she get it and just not want to do it or am I not finding the right way to communicate to her what it is I want?She gives me the same read in both situations.If she could get away with it she would have me believe all she knows how to do under saddle is walk and take in all the scenery but she knows she can't.Anyway I really better get going for now.Your friend,Moniece

P.S.You are right about when Rosa goes under saddle too,i'll know and understand so much more.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Well well well I got almost as much gait today as I had on my own when I had just taken her home from training :D !I still couldn't get her back in gait from the trot so I went back to a walk right away when I saw each time that I couldn't get back in gait.Big difference in the way I rode her today after lunging at a walk!I shortened my reigns,kept my hands higher wich kept her head up,was more firm with my pull but still quick with my release when asking for turns did alot of circles and serpentines at a walk,and got on her and made her back when she just stoped and took her head to go down to eat grass(I had not really been getting on her for that)and reminded her that she had to pay constant attention to me each time she took her attention elsewhere.We were both happy after the session.I had a big feel good smile and after cooling her off with the hose wich she liked she rolled then took off at a full gallop and bucking to go be with her friends :D .I think i'll back off now though and just ask her to move at a walk because she'll be sore.I did alot more with her than I intended to but I just got so excited after getting some gait!!I know all our sessions won't just be so wonderful and we'll have our days but i'm excited!!!!Your friend,Moniece

[Pasogirlz]

Congrats on a great first session....and many more to come. You see, you CAN do it. ;-)

[Bonnie M]

That's great news Moneice. Keep it up!

I was having issues with my gelding and my riding instructor had me actually close me eyes and ride him. I am not suggesting you or anyone else do this, especially by yourself. But I had a wide open space and was with my instructor. I kept tensing up which was causing my gelding to go into a pace, it was absoloutely awful! But when I closed my eyes, I actually relaxed and really felt the horse and my instructor told me when to open them up.

Another issue I had with with the same gelding was with trying to collect him and push him. Everytime he tucked his nose and got a nice headset, he would start to pace. I ended up having to put a firm nose band under his chin and if he started to tuck his nose in I would pop it up....he ended up without his pretty headset, but he gaits!

[Jasfino]

Great news Moniece! I knew you could do it!! :D

Even when they give what seems to us the slighest effort.... always remember it is alot to the horse... :D

[motorgypsy]

One other thing I forgot to mention - instead of kissisng or giving some leg or heel to get her to move out, try pulling the reins very slightly to the right and to the left. If she doesn't move out immediately try it again. Our hottest mare will move out on that cue and anything else will put her into a gallop.

[CarolU]

There you go Moniece! Very nice. Now, all you have to do is keep it up and she'll get in condition to gait consistently.

Good job.

[Brigitte]

Great news! Keep it up

[DebbieS]

How wonderful! I'm happy for you Moniece!

[GeorgeGuns]

See, you can DO IT! Its so hard to get them back into gait directly from trot until they really know what the gait cue from you is, much easier to go back down to walk! Plus, when you go back to a walk every time they trot, they start thinking "nag nag nag, what do I haev to do to get htis human to quit nagging?" then when they gait and you quit nagging they think "oooOOOOooooh !"

[Moniece Dickerson]

You all are GREAT :D :D :D !!I can't thank you enough for your help and encouragement!!!!Your friend,Moniece