Trote vs Trocha - Can anyone explain the difference?

[sandi45]

I watched the video that Brigitte posted and they show the trocha in slow motion. That's perfect! It makes the foot fall very clear.

What is the foot fall like for the Trote?

I also read either here or on PasoPedigree that the Trote is "bouncier" than the Trocha. Do any of you have experience with both so that you could compare them? (I know that a lot can depend on the horse.)

Thank you.

[Brigitte]

Trote is a diagonal two beat gait

Got a video of a T/g somewhere, need to upload it

[pasosx3]

Hi,

I've ridden 5 different Trote and Galope horses in the past 1-2 years. Each one felt different but they were all awsome to ride! The Trote is a 2 beat diagonal gait. It is like a marching step and some are more smooth than others but alot depends on how comfortable you are on the horse and how soft or supple and relaxed your lower back is and how powerful the horse is. I find the trote to be like a massage for my lower back. It feels that good! And I own 2 Paso Fino's too. The Galope is actually a canter and of course is very smooth. They do a collected canter so the motion is shorter than the canter or lope of a Quarter horse for example (or even a Paso Fino for that matter).

My husband actually owns a Trote and Galope. We're still learning but we have had a blast riding him and learning about these horses and getting familiar with a new kind of Paso horse.

I haven't ridden a Pure Trocha (yet). I don't think there are many here in the US.

Hope this helps.

[Pasogirlz]

Hi,

I've ridden 5 different Trote and Galope horses in the past 1-2 years. Each one felt different but they were all awsome to ride! The Trote is a 2 beat diagonal gait. It is like a marching step and some are more smooth than others but alot depends on how comfortable you are on the horse and how soft or supple and relaxed your lower back is and how powerful the horse is. I find the trote to be like a massage for my lower back. It feels that good! And I own 2 Paso Fino's too. The Galope is actually a canter and of course is very smooth. They do a collected canter so the motion is shorter than the canter or lope of a Quarter horse for example (or even a Paso Fino for that matter).

My husband actually owns a Trote and Galope. We're still learning but we have had a blast riding him and learning about these horses and getting familiar with a new kind of Paso horse.

I haven't ridden a Pure Trocha (yet). I don't think there are many here in the US.

Hope this helps.

We definatley need pix of your horses. 8-) Sounds like you have some really cool ones.

[pasosx3]

Hi,

I'd be happy to post some pics, but I don't know how to do that. Any help would be appreciated! You can pm me if you want.
Thanks!

[pasosx3]

Hi, this is our Trote y Galope Stallion. His name is Emperador.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/pasosx3/Emperador2Asmall.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/pasosx3/Emperador4small.jpg

[sandi45]

He is BEAUTIFUL! WOW!

[PasoPerson]

Sandi -

The Trote is actually the same footfall as a trot in non-gaited horses. Diagonal, two-beat. However, with the Paso it's a very collected Trote, as you might see in some high school dressage horses.

The Trocha is a 4-beat gait, but not evenly spaced. Instead of "taca taca taca taca" it is "tras tras tras tras". Imagine the "tr" being the left hind hitting and the "as" being the left fore hitting. TR-AS There is a split second between left hind and left fore, then a little longer split second before the right hind and the right fore.

Not very good at explaining, so will stop here. Good question to ask.

[sandi45]

Actually, that is very good "explaining". It makes sense to me now. When I put what you said with the trocha video Brigitte posted, the difference makes sense. (Think that I'll copy these posts to a Word file so that I can refer to them when my memory is on break!)

Thank you very much. :D

[Carol Nelson]

Wow!!! I'm sitting here with my mouth hanging open...HE'S GORGEOUS!!!!

[Brigitte]

I saw him at the mundial, my friend got him to ride

[pasosx3]

Thank you so much for the nice comments on the pics of Emperador!

Brigitte, he was ridden in the Youth Mundial! An 11 y.o. girl (is she your friend?) on the USA Team rode him. She did awsome with him. He was changing leads in the figure 8's and serpentines and everything and was ever the professional!

He was in the horse bank and was ridden by an 11 yo boy on the Colombian Team and another Colombian Team boy. We didn't see him ridden by the last rider, tho--we left to go get some sleep.

Like I said, I'm still learning with him but he is thrilling to ride! It's been an adventure. I still love riding Paso Finos too tho!

Becky

[sandi45]

Another question - since the trote is similar to a collected trot, do you need to post, or do you sit the trote? Does it depend on the horse and/or degree of collection?

Becky - do you and/or your husband post or sit your beautiful stallion's trote? (He is SO gorgeous! - the stallion, I mean. Haven't seen your husband so don't know if that applies to him too or not. :lol: )

Thank you all for your great information. I'm learning a lot!

[Laura S]

The Trocha is a 4-beat gait, but not evenly spaced. Instead of "taca taca taca taca" it is "tras tras tras tras". Imagine the "tr" being the left hind hitting and the "as" being the left fore hitting. TR-AS There is a split second between left hind and left fore, then a little longer split second before the right hind and the right fore

I always thought trocha was a 4 beat lateral gait. I wish my computer wasn't so slow. It makes it hard to look at vidoes.

[pasosx3]

Thank you! I'd be happy to share what I've learned so far.

No, you don't need to post the trote. That's the great thing about the Trote and Galopes!!! To be honest, I don't remember how to post, it's been wayyyyy too long since I've done that! I got into Pasos so I would never have to put my body through that again. Seemed to me that every English riders' goal was to do a "seated trot", so when I heard about Trote and Galopes, I thought, why not just skip to the seated trot!

And it isn't hard either. You basically just sit there and the horse does the rest. I've ridden Trotes with less collected Trote's and they were just as smooth so I haven't seen much difference in the ride, it was still a seated trote.

Hope this helps.
Becky

[sandi45]

Brigitte, Becky, Carolyn - this has been great information from all of you. Thank you SO much! :jumpy

[Brigitte]

My friend is the one who rode him in the 18-24 Boys class. he's from Aruba.

No need to post, just sit back relax and enjoy!

[Jasfino]

WoW... he is breathtaking!

[Pasogirlz]

Oh wow! Yes, I recognize him from Mundial too. He did GREAT. I was drooling over the ride. The young man rode him perfectly. 8-)

[73565640]

Hello to Becky and Rob, owners of Emperador. Regina from Key West, here, owner of Cali del Caribe, "wannabe girlfriend of Emperador". When I was in Ocala, Diego shot a clip of my riding Andariego, that other gorgeous Trote stallion. That clip, along with one with Intimidator are at my website, PasosintheKeys.com

Interested readers can see the gait of the Trote there. As you said, Becky, it is very smooth. Good thing posting is not required as I am sure not co-ordinated enough to do that!

Diego says the ride is so smooth due to the interval between the steps. Thus, no bouncing.

I had the opportunity to ride the Trocha stallion, Perfecto, before he left the farm. To me, the Trocha was harder on my back.

I hope we can keep in touch!

Regina

[motorgypsy]

trocha is the four beat uneven diagonal gait.

the original paso fino was the fourbeat uneven lateral gait with the most desireable expression of the gait being four beat even isochronal gait. Now the required paso fino gait is neither lateral nor diagonal, but lateral used to be permitted a long time ago Check your old gait descriptions.

[pasosx3]

Hi Regina--I was just wondering a little while back how you and Cali were doing! Looks like you are both doing really well. Cali looks beautiful! I remember riding her a few times and she was soooo smooth in Trote. She had a nice galope too and a sweet personality. You are a lucky gal to have her! She looks great.

Nice web site, too--neat idea. Enjoyed the video of Andariego, the Trote and Galope stallion. I got to do a quick ride on him a few months ago. He is quite flashy. I hear he's for sale....

The Trocha stallion, Perfecto that you mentioned on your site. He's not a Trocha Pura is he? Aren't his parents Paso Fino? Anyway, I rode him a few times a long time ago and he was smooth and super quick. I can't wait to someday ride a Trocha Pura tho.

Are you bringing Cali up to Ocala in Dec for the Open Trote and Galope Class at the Carnaval Show?

[73565640]

I haven't heard about the Carnaval show. When is it? We have been working with the local police dept Mounted Patrol to start a "posse", a citizen's auxiliary unit that would ride along with the KWPD. I have to attend a MP training school in December in Ocala and will be bringing both Cali and my Paso Fino with me for that training. Maybe we could participate.

By the way, it would be great if you and Rob would consider attending this MP training, too. It is not only for mounted police participants, but ANYBODY who ever leaves an arena to ride. It will be 3 days, $350, and horses can be boarded at the site. They encourage you to ride your own horse but they can supply horses, too. They trained the Stardust Drill team that Diego and Glenna and Debbie and Pauline are in. Would you consider attending?

I talked to Diego yesterday. He said what was originally scheduled to be a fun show for the "Trotones" has turned into a clinic. Do you have any info on that?

The website is just for fun, certainly not remarkable. But I like playing with it.

Regina

[pasosx3]

I meant Snowbird Classic, not Carnaval Dec 2 and 3 in Ocala.

I know this is 'off topic' but I thought anyone interested in the gaits might like to know about a chance to see some Trote and Galopes in a show. Anyway, according to the SRPFHA newsletter, there is scheduled a Trote and Galope Open class--nonpointed, no charge. Robin Varney posted something about it in another area. That's all I know about it.

Haven't heard anything definite about a Trote and Galope Clinic except that they (ATTA) would like to have one. Lori Perez is acting President and would be the one to contact.