@merrellmayhem It looks like a regular walk, but note how much more action there is on the front end, and how high the knees come up. I own a Rocky Mountain horse, and I'll tell you you can feel the difference! My Rocky walks much faster on the trail than his non-gaited counterparts. In fact, we've clocked our gaited horses between 4-5 miles per hour just at a walk.
If you want a great example of the Rocky in the future HI, check out Hit the Big Time at Prince Albert Stables. He will be in the breed demo at Equine Affaire in Ohio in April.
This horse is not pacing as you can hear the clear 4 beats of the hooves. It seems to be hard for non-gaited people to see when the hooves are or are not hitting the ground at the same time, but since you can hear it, its easy to know that this horse is doing the correct gait.
You're right! Can't believe I missed it. The hooves 4 beat is very close to 1-2-3-4 vs. the 1,2-3,4 of the typical pace. He sure put the brakes on the bit when he transitioned from the gait to the walk! Not a way to keep the mouth soft. This is NOT at all a good example of the Rocky as I mentioned earlier by not using the RMH gait definitions and using the UMH gait definitions. I will not tip my hat to "Horse Illustrated" on this one! They did not do their homework on a Rocky!
I have two rockys. And had a question. They were just broke and only have about 10 rides on each one; but one gaits smooth and great, and the other one paces! She just won't get into gait. So I have been hard trotting her, and was going to start from scratch. Do you have any suggestions?
@ArablvrXoXo First of all, keep doing what is smooth and not move to a quicker gait. If the horse is pacing or trotting, go back immediately to the smooth gait. Each step not in the gait is training that you'll have to later correct. Keep doing what works; as the horse is stronger, understands more, the other gaits will come. Be patient. Sometimes after 60-days training giving a horse several months break with no riding will also help with maturity, generally gaiting better after a break.
@ArablvrXoXo. Listen for the even 4 beat of the hoof (pick-a-poc-ket) and feel for the smoothness in the saddle. When both of those are combined, the horse is in its natural gait. Feel free to look at this video that has the sound. Do a search on YouTube for McGuire's Zocor and you can see a video with sound and see the smoothness.
Travelcat6, I'm happy that you now own a Rocky. You will not be displeased! As far as your question on soundness over time, I really can't answer that but I've yet to hear and find this could be an issue and it could depend on the training methods such as soaring on the TWH (sad and bad)! Rockies are known for their sound hooves but as will any horse, the good hooves good horse, bad hooves, bad horse. The RMHA is against any gait training artificial methods ie. soaring & weights etc.
jksones, thanks for your comments. I just became the owner of a Rocky, and I'm learning about the gaits, your comments are very helpful. This does look flashy but would this flashier gait, over time, affect the horse's long term soundness?
If a Rocky Mountain Horse is to be shown as an example of the breed, then the RMH gait definition should be used and a horse that is NOT BREAKING above the knee. Breaking above the knee means that the front hoof in the air does NOT go HIGHER than the knee on the other leg. It is minor infraction like this that creep in because it looks pretty and more flashy but in the end you end up with something totally different! ie: Tennessee Walking Horse.
This is a beautiful Rocky Mountain Horse (RMH) but is NOT the gait of the "Rocky" be as defined in the RMHA By-laws. This horse has been trained to break above the knee, therefore it does not conform to the gait defined by the RMHA in 1986. This example shows a RMH using the United Mountain Horse(UMH) gait definition!!! WRONG!!!!
@jksones And this horse is pacing. Note both feet on the same side leave the ground at the same time and return to the ground at the same time. The front feet travel higher which makes it look like a gait. This is common in TWH.
Bit sore on off fore?
remedyfarm 6 months ago
my friend has a rocky horse and we gaited on her double and it was THE smoothest gait id ever felt i was like "we still walkin?!"
hawaiianhorsegirl 6 months ago
Comment removed
Savant74656 7 months ago
the trail walk is a regular walk
merrellmayhem 7 months ago
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@merrellmayhem It looks like a regular walk, but note how much more action there is on the front end, and how high the knees come up. I own a Rocky Mountain horse, and I'll tell you you can feel the difference! My Rocky walks much faster on the trail than his non-gaited counterparts. In fact, we've clocked our gaited horses between 4-5 miles per hour just at a walk.
Savant74656 7 months ago
can you get those legs and feet any further away?
J43Gallop 10 months ago
If you want a great example of the Rocky in the future HI, check out Hit the Big Time at Prince Albert Stables. He will be in the breed demo at Equine Affaire in Ohio in April.
rmchamp1 11 months ago
This horse is not pacing as you can hear the clear 4 beats of the hooves. It seems to be hard for non-gaited people to see when the hooves are or are not hitting the ground at the same time, but since you can hear it, its easy to know that this horse is doing the correct gait.
rmchamp1 11 months ago
i cam here because of red dad redemption.. google RDR war horse
xXLDeusXx 1 year ago
You're right! Can't believe I missed it. The hooves 4 beat is very close to 1-2-3-4 vs. the 1,2-3,4 of the typical pace. He sure put the brakes on the bit when he transitioned from the gait to the walk! Not a way to keep the mouth soft. This is NOT at all a good example of the Rocky as I mentioned earlier by not using the RMH gait definitions and using the UMH gait definitions. I will not tip my hat to "Horse Illustrated" on this one! They did not do their homework on a Rocky!
jksones 1 year ago
the pleasure gait and a show walk are basicly the same thing, but faster.
MajiksGurl224 1 year ago
I have two rockys. And had a question. They were just broke and only have about 10 rides on each one; but one gaits smooth and great, and the other one paces! She just won't get into gait. So I have been hard trotting her, and was going to start from scratch. Do you have any suggestions?
ArablvrXoXo 1 year ago
@ArablvrXoXo First of all, keep doing what is smooth and not move to a quicker gait. If the horse is pacing or trotting, go back immediately to the smooth gait. Each step not in the gait is training that you'll have to later correct. Keep doing what works; as the horse is stronger, understands more, the other gaits will come. Be patient. Sometimes after 60-days training giving a horse several months break with no riding will also help with maturity, generally gaiting better after a break.
jksones 1 year ago
@ArablvrXoXo. Listen for the even 4 beat of the hoof (pick-a-poc-ket) and feel for the smoothness in the saddle. When both of those are combined, the horse is in its natural gait. Feel free to look at this video that has the sound. Do a search on YouTube for McGuire's Zocor and you can see a video with sound and see the smoothness.
jksones 1 year ago
@jksones thank you so much! i really think it helped them.
ArablvrXoXo 1 year ago
That is a BEAUTIFUL Horse you have there my friend.
WolfyRamenCo 1 year ago
Travelcat6, I'm happy that you now own a Rocky. You will not be displeased! As far as your question on soundness over time, I really can't answer that but I've yet to hear and find this could be an issue and it could depend on the training methods such as soaring on the TWH (sad and bad)! Rockies are known for their sound hooves but as will any horse, the good hooves good horse, bad hooves, bad horse. The RMHA is against any gait training artificial methods ie. soaring & weights etc.
jksones 1 year ago
jksones, thanks for your comments. I just became the owner of a Rocky, and I'm learning about the gaits, your comments are very helpful. This does look flashy but would this flashier gait, over time, affect the horse's long term soundness?
travelcat6 1 year ago
If a Rocky Mountain Horse is to be shown as an example of the breed, then the RMH gait definition should be used and a horse that is NOT BREAKING above the knee. Breaking above the knee means that the front hoof in the air does NOT go HIGHER than the knee on the other leg. It is minor infraction like this that creep in because it looks pretty and more flashy but in the end you end up with something totally different! ie: Tennessee Walking Horse.
jksones 1 year ago
This is a beautiful Rocky Mountain Horse (RMH) but is NOT the gait of the "Rocky" be as defined in the RMHA By-laws. This horse has been trained to break above the knee, therefore it does not conform to the gait defined by the RMHA in 1986. This example shows a RMH using the United Mountain Horse(UMH) gait definition!!! WRONG!!!!
jksones 1 year ago
@jksones And this horse is pacing. Note both feet on the same side leave the ground at the same time and return to the ground at the same time. The front feet travel higher which makes it look like a gait. This is common in TWH.
jeffreyskutley 1 year ago
Very nice video demontrating the different gaits. Beautiful horse as well.
fishermanswife1957 2 years ago