Apache Pacing

[bellabelliboo]

Hmmm, not judging but that little segment didn't look like a very controlled ride... Horse was probably hyped up because of the show, I assume. Gorgeous horse!!!

[theschmick]

@bellabelliboo Haha - oh yeah, it was *not* a controlled ride. He was about 5 years old here and it was our first year of showing. He would get very hyped up. He's not supposed to pace under saddle, but he did it anyway because he was so amped. He really did not want to go back down to the walk when they called for it.

[Horseeee92]

I thought only Standardbred's paced lol.

[theschmick]

The Tennessee Walker came about from a crossing of the Thoroughbred, Canadian Pacer, Narragansett Pacer, Morgan, & Saddlebred. These same two Pacer breeds contributed to the Standardbred bloodlines as well. The TWH breed standard does not call for them to pace, but with these bloodlines, many of them can and do pace, in addition to various other gaits. The breed standard only recognizes the flat walk and running walk as correct middle gaits, though.

[Horseeee92]

Hi, I know the breeds in a Standardbred. Standardbreds also have Morgan blood. Standardbreds only pace if taught to though. Ex trotters and un raced, un trialed Standardbreds don't pace which is why I don't see why the Tennesse Walker does?

[theschmick]

Some horses can pace naturally without being trained, like the original Pacer breeds did. It just depends on the exact genes they end up with based on their bloodlines. There are plenty of TWH that cannot pace at all. Some can trot, some can pace, some cannot do either. It's just a genetic lottery. I have heard the same is true for Morgans and Saddlebreds - some gait naturally without training, and some do not, depending on their genes.

[horsejumper13]

why shouldnt you be showing it?

[theschmick]

Oh, because he's registered as a Tennessee Walker / Spotted Saddle Horse and the pace is not considered a correct gait, for showing purposes, for either of those breeds. Thus, I have trained him not to pace under saddle so that he doesn't do it in the show ring. This video was taken when he was still very young and not consistent about it, especially when excited like he was at this show.

[ridingisasport]

Beautiful horse, He looks just like one I knew.

[CiteriaHorgan]

Did you teach your walker to trot, my walker paces and canters.

[theschmick]

He did a number of intermediate gaits when I got him: trot, pace, fox trot, stepping pace, rack, running walk. In pasture, he has always preferred to trot, but has never done it under saddle. I have only seen him pace a few times, either in pasture or under saddle. He used to fox trot and stepping pace a lot under saddle for the first few years I had him. I have trained him that rack and running walk are the only intermediate gaits I want under saddle, but he sometimes drifts if he's being lazy!

[CiteriaHorgan]

Do you know if pacer are able to compete in jumping or cross country in the U.S.

[theschmick]

I don't know much about those disciplines. However, I have shown my horse at jumping competitions as well as dressage competitions. Most disciplines welcome gaited horses, so I don't see why not.

[milliesos]

yes they can

[theschmick]

Oh, and in addition to his intermediate gaits, he also has a lovely canter and flat walk. I have plenty of video of his canter up as well.

[CiteriaHorgan]

Thank you very much, I was thinking the same. I have a video of my Walker horse. He not really mine, but he loves riding. I go once a week to ride him, since his owner doesn't know how to control him. He get excited when we ride around, but it getting boring for him. At first it was good, since he hadn't been ridden 4 years.

[speedracking]

That is very interesting! Beautiful Horse! Nothing wrong with a pace as long as it's smooth!

[theschmick]

He doesn't do it enough for me to really gauge how smooth it is, which is fine with me. His walking and racking gaits are plenty smooth and I love riding those.

[theschmick]

Oh, and thanks for the compliments. He looks so small to me in this video. If you look at more recent videos, you'll see how he's matured into an even nicer looking horse. : )

[speedracking]

Is this horse a Arab? Or Saddlebred. I posted the link on my Speed Racing group some thought the horse was saddlebred. Would love to see the other videos.

[theschmick]

This horse is registered as a Tennessee Walking Horse, a Racking Horse, and a Spotted Saddle Horse. We were showing at an open show sponsored by an Arab organization so all the other horses in the arena with us in this video are Arabs. I have a number of other videos of him up - just go to my profile and you will see them all listed there.

[speedracking]

Ok I guess I should of looked closer at the horse. And not his legs.