Rio Gaiting and Cantering

[umagrrl]

i hate to ask such a lame question but do you cue the horse a different way to ask for the running walk and flat walk? or is it like tap once, tap twice?

[utahkimi]

@umagrrl Not a lame question. I'm not sure how other people do it, but I do it more like the difference between asking for a regular working trot and an extended trot--you keep the same frame but just ask for more. I also cue him verbally with the cue "walk up!" or "walk on!" just to back it up, although you can't really yell that in the middle of a class. :) Honestly--I just give him more leg to get him started and often lift my hands just a little bit more for some support.

[FinnsMam]

VERY cute, so nice to see a natural walker x

[msheadshaker]

CUTE LITTLE HORSE

[utahkimi]

Thanks... except he's sort of ginormous for a TWH. He's 16 hands and I am often asked if he's half-draft. His other name is Bubba. :)

[oOLG4UsOo]

amazing... soo good!

[landjwalk]

Very impressed, especially with the canter, so few TWH's canter anymore, let alone naturally.

[utahkimi]

And may I say--it ain't easy! Thankfully, I have a friend who gets them to canter, but it's just such an easy gait to lose on these gaited horses! Not like my QH and Friesian--they only do three things: walk, trot, canter. They don't have a bunch of gaits in between. :) But hey--we all like a challenge, yes?

[fancigal]

again I am so jealous of your walkers awesome canters!! Oh, and I believe you on your pacey horses thing... course there is the exception of people just breeding pacey horses, sometimes, they just turn out like that from training. There is one walker my friend has that is now a pacer because a quarter horse trainer thought that it was a walk... now he has an arched neck and a pace... he was supposed to be put in trail pleasure but couldnt cause of his pace :(

[utahkimi]

She can get him back to walking. Just tell her to SLOW HIM DOWN until that head nod comes back--even if it's a dog walk for now. Then slowly speed him up--but come back down every time he loses his head nod. But do all of this while working for collection and getting him to sit down on his hind end. It will come back!!!

[fancigal]

he has the perfect hind end, very low and engaged... it's just so engrained in him since day one of training that when they sent him to a trainer, the trainer just gave him back... His arched neck is not going to get straight again, unfortunately, the QH trainer trained him when he was still growing so now the muscles in his neck basically formed that way. Luckily when she takes him to all breed shows, they can barely tell a running walk from a fast pace. They dont know walkers!! hahaha

[nellie000uk]

SPEEDWALK :D

[HeavensGaitWalkers]

I have 7 TWHs, and all the ones who are WGC bred are more walky than the ones who aren't; they are the really pacey ones.

[GoatOnFyre]

hey kim. I didn't like my last username...so here is my new one

~Jen

[drunkNgoat]

hey Kim! It's Jen with the "other" Rio (chiquito) Can U make a vid of us sometime?? I LOVE YOUR VIDS! I have the perfect song too...Dee lite "Groove is in the heart" LOL

~Jen

[utahkimi]

Oh... I am SOOOOO all over that!!! You just give me the time and date... and a better digital camcorder (oh, wait--I'll have to ask Santa for that)... and I am THERE! :)

[drunkNgoat]

COOL!!!  we'll wait until after santa brings U your new toy!!!

what days are good for U??? The EQ center has been open on weekends.

[gittiupspots]

All of Rio's videos are on my fav's. Love Rio- from your friend in Utah, owner of Rocky and Magic, Spotted Saddle Horses!

[utahkimi]

Thanks, D!

[doggieram]

ok, im confused.

i know that if the 2 left feet move at the same time with each other then its a pace.

but i dont understand, why do some horses have a gait that is really a pace?

i know some horses that do it differently and they place first in the shows.

[utahkimi]

Hi. Not sure I understand your question? Most show horses are extremely pacey, perhaps that is what you are referring to? Rio is more "walky" than pacey... so he probably would not be competitive nationally against the pacier horses. Is that what you're asking about?

[utahkimi]

Also--many people would argue that the modern show horse, bred from the WGCs, are extremely pacey, because if they're not, you can't put them on pads (they would trot). I tend to believe that theory. If you know how to get a pacey horse to walk, you'll probably be more competitive. Me? I want the easy 4-beated glide-ride! :)

[HeavensGaitWalkers]

actually, that theory is wrong, i have a colt who is all WGC padded performance bred, and he has an extremely natural walk, and he doesn't pace at all.

[utahkimi]

I have also seen some that don't pace--but the occasional exception doesn't mean people aren't intentionally breeding extremely pacey horses so they can go on pads. However, padded horse "drop-outs," generally full of WCGs, often make great flat-shod horses.

[HeavensGaitWalkers]

I'm not saying people don't breed pacey horses, but I don't think they breed them pacey just to go on pads. A naturally walky horse can be padded without trotting - if the pads make it hard for a horse to do a 2 beat pace, wouldn't it make it just as hard for them to do a 2-beat trot? Collection brings them out of the pace, not pads or shoes.

[utahkimi]

Have you talked with any padded horse trainers lately? Because I have. And they definitely want a horse that, in the words of one I just met a month ago, "paces like a cow." I was not personally aware that cows pace, but maybe they do. Pads definitely break up a pace. And so do chains and soring, but I wouldn't recommend any of them.

[HeavensGaitWalkers]

Pads do help break up a pace, so do heavy shoes. But riding and training does most of it. You can't just tack pads/shoes on a horse and expect it to stop pacing. I had a very pacey mare (she was not WGC but flatshod bred) and i brought her into a running walk simply by riding and training, she's never worn a shoe in her life. Took a year, but now she walks like there's no tomorrow. I'm just saying, WGC bred horses aren't the only ones wh pace, it just depends on the horse.

[TwoWebs]

Actually my trainer told me they do because the horse has more animation in the gait.

[HeavensGaitWalkers]

They do what ? Update on my last posts: we've acquired a Pusher CG mare out of a Generator mare, a Carbon Copy direct daughter out of a Sun's Delight mare, a direct daughter of Ritz out of a 3x World Champion (padded) Generator mare, and a direct daughter of Prides Generator out of an Ultra Threat mare. None of these horses pace, and all have the very best WGC breeding there is in the industry.

[TwoWebs]

I probably was not totally clear. My trainer told me that a padded horse breeder/trainer will breed a horse that leans toward the pacey side because that horse would have more animation. Such as my mare who is by Generator's Sundrop. She was a padded horse for a while before I bought her. After she was off of the pads she paced. It took only a few month before I had her flat walking.

[HeavensGaitWalkers]

that's true, they do have more animation and longer stride when they go on pads if they're pacey. Congrats on getting your mare to gait without pads though-- there are some you couldn't do that with!! :)

[landjwalk]

We bought a horse on pads from a local show stable where I worked for a short time and put him on kegs, it took us months to get a steady 4 beat walk out of him let alone a running walk out of him, that horse could pace standing still.

[landjwalk]

oh yes I know...I have had 1 out of about 10 that was easy to canter, the more square horses seem to be easier to canter than the pacier ones.

[tennessue]

LOVE your Rio . . . and guess what?! I have a Royal Ivory son, too (now 4 1/2) and his name is Rio, too! I'm envious of your Rio's gaits--my Rio trots at liberty, and I struggle a bit to keep him in gait on the trail. Trouble is, I find myself riding with Arabians most of the time, and he wants to go their speed. Soon as my boyfriend's TWH is under saddle, we'll have a gaiting partner. You can see a couple of videos of Stetson and a silly one of Rio by looking at channel "tennessue".

[utahkimi]

Rio the counting horse--so cute! I can't believe how much alike Royal Ivory's palomino sons are. I love 'em. As for gaiting--flatwalk, flatwalk, flatwalk! A very SLOW and correct flatwalk. :) That's how my Rio and I spent our first 6 months together in an indoor arena. Boring, but hey--it's worth it in the end!

[utahkimi]

Also--love Stetson, too! Those boys will be SO FLASHY going down the trail together! Buckskin TWHs are my "other" weakness, but I don't have one yet. I will find one eventually... :)

[rustyspurguesthouse]

What a nice nice horse. Thanks for posting. A great representative of his breed.

[utahkimi]

Thanks so much! He's a great horse. It's fun to feel the kind of power he has with such a smooth ride. :)

[moonlit81]

From a certified tw instructor who rides english, western, and specializes in dressage. Just love RIO. Especially since he is 3 gaited. What are his lines? Ever think about selling him?

[utahkimi]

Thanks for you comments! Rio's sire is Royal Ivory and his dam is by Senator's Moonraker (Ebony's Senator/Ebony Masterpiece) and his dam's mother is from the Sun's Delight line. He really is a great horse. I just rode him last night and I have to say... I don't plan on ever selling him. In fact, I'd love to have about 5 more just like him!

[utahkimi]

I should point out that he unfortunately pulled his hamstring over a year ago, so we are still rehabbing him. His backend/overstride is better than what is showing up in the video, but he's still a little tight on one hind leg. I like playing dressage with him--we're currently working on haunches in, which would go better if I knew what I was doing--but he's a good sport. He's also started jumping cross rails recently. And he's really, truly fabulous on the trails! :)

[moonlit81]

Ya think jumping cross rails is helping out strenthening his hind leg? If he was in rehab...I would not be jumping; or if I chose ..it would be at the end of his rehab. Dressage is great to get them supple and flexible as well as obedient.. He comes from great lines... I do like the horse..

[utahkimi]

You make a fine point about jumping. He's over the initial injury (which required two months of rest and then two months of short sessions of dog-walking). He's been cleared by his vet, but I still notice a small hitch in his gitalong. He's only jumped three times, but that was before we started working on stretching that leg out. But your point is well-taken, and, until I figure out the leg issue, he'll probably go back to dog and flag-walking for awhile.

[moonlit81]

Good for you. I think plenty of flat walking and dog walking is great. If he can handle cantering..thats fine, too.but limited until he is 100%. You can manually stretch his joints/legs out. I would also supervise his turnouts as well w/Satin & a friesian filly? And you might consider injections and linaments for your palomino.I'm sorry that it happened for him at a young age.What did happen anyway? Long as he's fun on the trail and not in pain,and doing what you want,that's what counts.

[zzeldaa]

Thank you for not putting pads on him! They all look so much better without them!!! Beautiful horse, nice movement

[123cirrus321]

you shouldnt canter a horse on hard ground! Its dangerous!

[utahkimi]

Interesting comment. I suppose somebody should have told all those people who rode horses on dirt roads for years that it was dangerous. Should we not ride on dirt roads at all? Perhaps only in arenas? Maybe only padded arenas? You know--come to think of it... even getting anywhere near a horse is dangerous... :)

But really--it is a dirt/gravel driveway, not asphalt. I would agree with you if it had been concrete or asphalt.

[beautifullystated]

ridingintherain, stop critizing people about information that you appearently know nothing about!!!

TIP--go play in traffic!! (just a suggestion)

utahkimi, your horse is gorgeous, don't listen to what its face!!

[Shade34581]

Beautiful guy! I love his sweet, gentle eye as he transitions and moves; you'll enjoy him for a long time, I'll bet!

~from an avid (naturally-gaited) TWH owner and fan!

[ridingintherain]

poipopoki (1 week ago) Marked as spam

Soring horses is illegal!

What makes u think this horse is sore? Is it the calm, pleasant, happy way of going he has, that gives it away? You really must educate me on how you are able to tell these things so easily.

[poipopoki]

Soring horses is illegal!

[utahkimi]

While I am impressed with your grasp of federal law, what is your point? I think soring is disgusting and would never do it. Rio would kill me if I did. I think you should educate yourself about it before writing things like that.

[taybrady]

Yes it is. That's why it is a pleasure to see a beautiful TWH gaiting without action aids or training involving training. If you think this horse is sored, you really don't know a thing about Walking Horses.

[raprhowe]

Keep working with this boy. He's really nice and I can see he's got more to give you. You're definitely going in the right direction with him. Congratulations.

[utahkimi]

Thanks! And that means a lot coming from you! :) I laughed when I read about your 4 yr old mare by Papa--flatwalk, flatwalk, flatwalk (before you teach them anything else)! Thankfully, my friends taught me that with my horses. :) By the way, I LOVE Papa--I have a great, very walky mare (bred by Dan Aadland) with a huge back end and head not but not much front end--I'd love to breed her to Papa in a few years.

[Tisamiru]

i think your horse is amazing. i've been looking for a horse and all things are pointing to a TN walker.:DD love your horse's gaits !

[utahkimi]

You should get one--they're fabulous! Just took him on a trail ride last week--awesome. :) I'm hoping to get a new video of the kid tomorrow--he's all shed out and looking ever so cute. :) I realize I'm prejudice, but I recommend the Royal Ivory babies if you're lookin' and want color, too.

[ponies4eva]

wow tht horse can walk. he is beautiful

[boldyns]

Nice horse he makes me want a Walker. Enjoy him!!

[utahkimi]

Thanks! He's a great horse. And I highly recommend TWHs, but get the right one--stay away from the pacers and look for a true athlete. :)

[Stardrifterx3]

heyyy my horse's name is rio too!

[xxHorseMadSazxx]

wow dat horse is stunnin nd his gaits look lurverly nd comfortable hehe:D shes soo gd for ridin bareback 2 im rubbsih at bareback:P jw cn gaited horses jump cz i imagine if he cn he has a nice jump:D w/b plz! xXSazXx xxx

[utahkimi]

Thanks! I think Rio has two goals in life. 1) to be a reining horse (he does fabulous sliding stops when turned out), and 2) to be a jumper (he enjoys sailing over jumps also when turned out). I haven't done it, yet, but I'm thinking of starting him over crossrails this winter. Frankly, I have no idea how to train a horse to jump, but I have friends who do. :)

[ElreniaGreenleaf]

Gorgeous horse! Me want! lol

Is it just me or is the rider holding the reins a bit too close to her body? I'm not being nasty or anything so please don't take it as a criticism I just wondered. I'm not a hugely great rider myself so I like to learn from other people. She has a fantastic seat though - my one experience of bareback was in walk but I loved it!

[utahkimi]

Ha ha! You are so right! I need to show it to Adi so she can see what she's doing. I suspect it's because she was cold and didn't have gloves on, but who knows. The really funny thing is that she yells at me for doing the same thing when I ride. :) But she really does have a secure seat. I've seen her ride bareback in the mountains, and she gallops Rio all over the place bareback. Crazy girl.

[ElreniaGreenleaf]

Galloping? Bareback? Wow. I could SO never do THAT! lol

Don't you just hate it when people tell you off for doing something and then doing it themselves? My old instructor used to tell me off for doing "the woodpecker" in canter...I saw her at a show once and guess what she was doing? lol XD

[utahkimi]

You'll never catch me galloping bareback, either. I've almost gotten launched just cantering bareback. :) But it IS nice to have friends who can really ride to help train your horses!

[ElreniaGreenleaf]

I wish I could gallop bareback... *sigh* I've only galloped once - on a beach in Northumberland on a tiny little 21year old Highland! lol Still a load of fun though!

[WalterthePony]

He's stunning. And so comfortable-looking!

[utahkimi]

Thanks for your comment! And he is SO COMFORTABLE to ride. A friend at the barn who events on TBs said she felt like she was either sitting on a couch or driving a ferrari when she rode on him. Strangely, it's a little bit of both. I'll try to get a better video of him in a few months when he sheds out.

[utahkimi]

Thanks (though he's 5 1/2--will be 6 in August)! He's a good kid and VERY fun to ride!

[XxDestinyxX14]

beautiful. and great for a 4 1/2 year old. keep up the good work