Morgan's Gait.

[HorseDayz11]

My horse is gaited, but I use her for speed too. Her gait is supposed to be high. You know, her knee to her chest during the gate. She has a smooth and fast gait, the right gait, but how do I teach her to make it pretty and high?

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

I can help you get her to have a leg up with her gait(I train Walking horses), but I'm not exactually sure what you want out of you horse. Are you gaming with her? or showing? give us a little more info so I can help ya out. ;)

[HorseDayz11]

I am showing her. What I want is what.. Paso Finos or Tennessee Walkers do.
Their knees touch their chest, their gait is so high. Did that help?

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

The first thing to do is make sure that the farrier that you use knows the angles and shoeing of gaited horses. They are shod a whole lot different than flat gaited horses. The other thing is bit choice, you need to make sure that it's something that your horse likes but also does the job. The main thing is to make your horse live in an overcheck, this will set it's head in turn causing her butt to go down, making a bigger stride underneath. When this happens, this also causes a bigger step up front. The other thing you can do, is to put her on a "training package" which will help break down her hips and building up shoulder muscle. If this is something you don't want to do, then the next suggestion I would have is to work up hill and down hill 99% of the time you ride once the gait is already there. Also when working, try using a light chain starting off on her front feet. This will encourage her to pick up her feet, but make sure you put vaseline on first so the chains won't rub her. Try these thing and see if you get anywhere with it. But don't get discouraged if you don't see imediate results, it normally takes a little time. And just remember that some horses can only give you so much. Best of luck to ya and keep me posted, if you have anymore questions please let me know if I can help.

[HorseDayz11]

Thanks and I will surely try, with help of course, I don't want to do anything wrong. Tell me more about the training package. It sounds interesting in keeping my horse in great health and muscular shape. :]

[silverleprichuan]

Thanks and I will surely try, with help of course, I don't want to do anything wrong. Tell me more about the training package. It sounds interesting in keeping my horse in great health and muscular shape. :]


How on earth does "breaking down the hip" sound healthy in any way.


Horses are born with their natural gait. Proper slow conditioning over hill work will help her build up her back and hindquarter so she can move freely. Chains, "overchecks", setting the head, and breaking down the hindquarter are not the methods of a true horseman, they are cheap short cuts.

Your horse may or may not have flashy movement, and with the right exercise she may develops the proper muscles to carry herself better but please do not try and force her into having a better gait.

[HorseDayz11]

I meant it sounds like it will keep her conditioned well which keeps her in great health.

I am asking for help, I don't know of shortcuts. All I can do is try will people tell me. Truth, I have been training by Parelli and Clinton for a while, I like true horsemanship, not shortcuts. So if you think those are shortcuts, tell me how else I can do it. We don't have many hills, so I need another solution.

[silverleprichuan]

Well as a horsewoman the first thing you need to do is accept that your horse may never have extremely flashy movements and trying to force such movement out of your horse will result in an angry broken down horse.

To improve the movement he already has you need to build his stifle and back. Hillwork is always the best option but if it is not available then you can use trotting poles. Do some research and find what distance is appropriate for your horses size and stride.

Make sure that as a rider you are not interfering with your horses movement. You should stay tall in the upper body, keep your chest open, chin up, and lower back slightly concave but relaxed. Your legs should wrap around your horses barrel and keep a soft but constant contact at all times. Heels must be down and knees must not pinch. Your hands should have a soft but constant contact with the reins. At no time should you jerk on the reins, drop contact, or lean on the reins for balance. All transitions must come from the seat and go to the hands only if necessary. If you hold on his mouth through the transition he will hollow and you will lose impulsion.

Keep an eye out for local trainers who you can visit and watch, you can also audit clinics and heard how the clinician works through problems with those horses.

There is no overnight method to make your horse into a flashy high stepping mover, but with proper conditioning and correct rider equitation, you can improve your horses gaits.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

Give me a damn break here, now you folks here say that setting heads, riding with overchecks, and "breaking down the hips" is all cruel and unnatural, but then again you, yourself have no prior training with gaited horses in the show circuit. You ride flat gaited horses. Hate to tell ya but it's a different world, with different training methods. Now if you want results over night, yea they're out there but not humane nor legal. If you want to show and ride a 100% sound horse, then what I stated previously is the RIGHT way to do it. Natural horsemanship a some to do with it, but not everything! Sure some horses are born with outstanding natural talent, but if the trainer knows how to enhance any horse's talent then they will find ways to do so, the right way. Now the whole phrase of "breaking down the hips" is a figure of speech. It's not like I'm telling the girl to go have her horse's stifle cut! Basically all I'm saying is TRAIN HER FREAKIN MUSCLES!!!! Teach the horse to reach underneath it's self, in turn causing a bigger stride. The overcheck is a fantastic training method for teaching a horse to hold it's head. Now making a horse hold it's head up is no different than having a droopy ass horse dragging it's damn nose on the ground. Now with the overcheck, not only does it help with the headset, but it also helps with the stride. Now is that a good enough explination for all your critizisim?

[silverleprichuan]

Give me a damn break here, now you folks here say that setting heads, riding with overchecks, and "breaking down the hips" is all cruel and unnatural, but then again you, yourself have no prior training with gaited horses in the show circuit. You ride flat gaited horses. Hate to tell ya but it's a different world, with different training methods. Now if you want results over night, yea they're out there but not humane nor legal. If you want to show and ride a 100% sound horse, then what I stated previously is the RIGHT way to do it. Natural horsemanship a some to do with it, but not everything! Sure some horses are born with outstanding natural talent, but if the trainer knows how to enhance any horse's talent then they will find ways to do so, the right way. Now the whole phrase of "breaking down the hips" is a figure of speech. It's not like I'm telling the girl to go have her horse's stifle cut! Basically all I'm saying is TRAIN HER FREAKIN MUSCLES!!!! Teach the horse to reach underneath it's self, in turn causing a bigger stride. The overcheck is a fantastic training method for teaching a horse to hold it's head. Now making a horse hold it's head up is no different than having a droopy ass horse dragging it's damn nose on the ground. Now with the overcheck, not only does it help with the headset, but it also helps with the stride. Now is that a good enough explination for all your critizisim?


My goodness, no need to get so upset. I do have experience with gaited horses because my trainer trained and showed them for nearly 10 years. We have gaited horses on property and I have been to many local and regional shows.
Just because I do not personally own a gaited horse does not mean that I am ignorant.
If you find that your methods work, then that is wonderful and you should continue to use these methods. I have never heard the term "breaking down the hips" when talking about Building Up muscle but if that was your intention, then so be it.
My methods will give the same results as yours will. Mine just rely on proper equitation and slow muscle development.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

True they do give the same results...sorta...but the thing with gaited horses...if they gait, then they DO NOT trot! That's a huge NO NO!! So absoultly NO trotting poles. If anything it will only screw up the already established gait, now if the horse is pacing, then work in figure 8's, it helps with the foot work. Also add a weighted shoe to the front, or if you don't want the weighted shoe, use chains, or rollers...all these are for is weight!!! They do NOT hurt the horse, nor are they cruel!!!! Now if you have know gaited trainers who never used chains or some sort of action device, then they don't train gaited horses, that's just part of it whether people like it or not!!! Like I said before it is NOT cruel in any way and does not harm the horse or cause pain!!!!

[HorseDayz11]

Please quit arguing. I will try both of your methods, I am sure they will both work, but for Walk On. Can you use tightened barrel shin boots and bell boots for weight? It squeezes her foot a little more and if she makes a mistake and hits her front leg, it won't hurt her.

[silverleprichuan]

Sorry my dead, certainly not trying to argue, just stating my opinion.

Walk_On_Cowgirl- yes I do know people who have trained their horses without chains, weighted shoes, etc. They do not have the same flashy movement but they are still beautiful movers.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

Please quit arguing. I will try both of your methods, I am sure they will both work, but for Walk On. Can you use tightened barrel shin boots and bell boots for weight? It squeezes her foot a little more and if she makes a mistake and hits her front leg, it won't hurt her.


Well if you wan to use the bell boots that's fine, I actually have to stall my mare in bell boots b/c her stride is so big that she'll actually step on her shoes and pull them off. But as for weight, well no bell boots really don't serve the purpose as weight, but only for protection. But if you want to put the boots on and the chains or rollers on top of those then that's perfectly fine too. I'm not sure about the shin boots, if they're anything like splint boots then no they won't work for weight but if you feel like you need to use them then that's fine. Generally, they won't hurt themselves when doing these things, but if you have any doubt then you can lunge the horse doing these things before you ride her if you would like. A friend of mine lunges every time they try something new b/c he's always scared to do anything different, thinking the horse will blow up or something, when they never do. As long as you start off slow, then you won't mess up. Now if the weight makes your gait feel "off" then try something lighter. A lot of it is trial and error, but once you find the right combination for your horse then all it takes then is getting her consistant. Generally, a lot of show horses are not consistant in the show ring, some have good days and other times they blow up, most of this happens b/c a lot of "weekend riders" think that they can ride whenever and still go in and win, but it takes a lot of hard work and time to make your horse right. Good luck and keep me posted on how things work.

[Wild Horsefeathers]

JMHO, but suggesting the use of chains and rollers to someone isnt the smartest idea, unless they have someone who is there to show them how to use it. Safty hazard there. ;) JMHO.... :)

I have a saddlebred mare, I wish she had a gait. :D

[silverleprichuan]

Well if you wan to use the bell boots that's fine, I actually have to stall my mare in bell boots b/c her stride is so big that she'll actually step on her shoes and pull them off.

Just a little FYI
That's known as overreaching and is due to improper shoeing or conformational faults such as a short back or high hocks.
A horse with a large stride will over step not overreach and will not step on the front foot.
My mare has a 9-inch Over Step at the walk and has never pulled a shoe in her stall, ring, or 10 acre pasture because she is shod correctly and has good conformation.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

Just a little FYI
That's known as overreaching and is due to improper shoeing or conformational faults such as a short back or high hocks.
A horse with a large stride will over step not overreach and will not step on the front foot.
My mare has a 9-inch Over Step at the walk and has never pulled a shoe in her stall, ring, or 10 acre pasture because she is shod correctly and has good conformation.


First of all, I really don't think much of your smartass remarks, the girl asked for help not a damn arguement on how you want to argue with me about how everything I do is wrong. Now just a little FYI for you, a big stride is a GOOD THING in the Walking horse industry, now if the horse is overstriding, no big deal if they're stepping on themselves, shit happens such as pulled shoes. That's what the farrier's for! Now if it keep happening, it does NOT mean that they have poor conformation. Hell my mare is a model mare, she's build exactly how the judge likes them, also short backs have nothing to do with it. My mare is long and still steps on herself. All you do to fix the problem is to cut more off the inside of the back feet, if that don't work or if you want more backend, then either add a trailer shoe, or if you already have them on then flip them around so that the curves are facing eachother. This all in turn helps the horse to reach around their front feet. Now you also said that your horse oversteps 9 inches at the walk....that's great...mine currently is about 6.5 inches at the running walk (her gait). The way we look at it in the Walking horse circuit is that the more the better, front and back. Now I know we tend to do things completely different than flat gaited horse people and there should be nothing wrong with that. Different breed of horses require different needs and training methods. I've ridden and trained all dispositions, so I know it's very contraversial as well as political, but that's just the way it is. You may not agree with how I do things and you also might think differently than I do about conformation, but I think everyone on here should respect everyone's different opinions.

[silverleprichuan]

First of all, I really don't think much of your smartass remarks, the girl asked for help not a damn arguement on how you want to argue with me about how everything I do is wrong. Now just a little FYI for you, a big stride is a GOOD THING in the Walking horse industry, now if the horse is overstriding, no big deal if they're stepping on themselves, shit happens such as pulled shoes. That's what the farrier's for! Now if it keep happening, it does NOT mean that they have poor conformation. Hell my mare is a model mare, she's build exactly how the judge likes them, also short backs have nothing to do with it. My mare is long and still steps on herself. All you do to fix the problem is to cut more off the inside of the back feet, if that don't work or if you want more backend, then either add a trailer shoe, or if you already have them on then flip them around so that the curves are facing eachother. This all in turn helps the horse to reach around their front feet. Now you also said that your horse oversteps 9 inches at the walk....that's great...mine currently is about 6.5 inches at the running walk (her gait). The way we look at it in the Walking horse circuit is that the more the better, front and back. Now I know we tend to do things completely different than flat gaited horse people and there should be nothing wrong with that. Different breed of horses require different needs and training methods. I've ridden and trained all dispositions, so I know it's very contraversial as well as political, but that's just the way it is. You may not agree with how I do things and you also might think differently than I do about conformation, but I think everyone on here should respect everyone's different opinions.


Stepping on the front feet is a big deal because you run the risk of damaging the hoof wall everytime you lose a shoe.
A trailer shoe is used to straighten the track of the hind feet, and a horse should never "reach around" it's front feet. The foot should always travel as straight as possible.
At no time did I say that I didn't respect your opinion and I think it is very rude that you would suggest other wise. I simply stated that it is not a good thing if a horse is stepping on themselves.
This board is read by people of all ages, and I would hate for a younger less experienced rider to think it's "ok" that her horse is constantly pulling shoes.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

Stepping on the front feet is a big deal because you run the risk of damaging the hoof wall everytime you lose a shoe.
A trailer shoe is used to straighten the track of the hind feet, and a horse should never "reach around" it's front feet. The foot should always travel as straight as possible.
At no time did I say that I didn't respect your opinion and I think it is very rude that you would suggest other wise. I simply stated that it is not a good thing if a horse is stepping on themselves.
This board is read by people of all ages, and I would hate for a younger less experienced rider to think it's "ok" that her horse is constantly pulling shoes.


Like I said before, if they step on themselves, fix it! It means that they are following in a straight line behind themselves when they overstride, they're just following a little two close. Some horses need a little help so that it doesn't happen, they need widened up. Trailer shoes help give more swing to square horses. Turing the shoe around and putting them on the opposite feet helps "big lick" horses stride better.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

HorseDayz11, sorry this whole thing as become an arguement. Hunter/Jumpers don't realize really what it takes to train gaited horses. In short what class are you planning on showing in? Depending on the class there are different shoeing regulations, for the type and size shoe you can use. One little trick you can have your farrier do whenever you have your horse reset is to move your shoe forward, you're allowed 1/4". This helps with reach. As for height, have him take a hoof knife and cut a grove on the inside of the toe, about an inch long on both front feet, by doing this sometimes he helps horses have a little more lift just by shoeing. These are just little tricks to help with the shoeing situtation. Sometimes it affects certain horses, others pay no mind to it. But never the less it just makes the toe have a little bend in it, causing more lift.

[HorseDayz11]

Well, I would show her in more than a gaited class, but just Saddle Horse and Horsemanship.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

Well, I would show her in more than a gaited class, but just Saddle Horse and Horsemanship.

What I mean is like, for example, light shod, trail pleasure, all day pleasure, or are you talking about your standard english pleasure or go as you please classes....classes like that. Give me an example of what type of classes (name of the class) and kind of what your competition looks like. That will help me to tell you how to set up your horse. :D

[HorseDayz11]

Western Saddle Horse 17 and under. -- i usually win this class.
Western Junior Horsemanship. -- competition is really tough.

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

Ok, cool classes!! Those are normally really fun to be in!! Well I believe, but check your rule book to make sure, but you are allowed a 3/8" x 3/4" shoe on the front feet, you might be allowed more but I'm not 100% sure off the top of my head without looking it up. Not much weight but it might be more than what your horse already has on and it might really help with the front action. Another good way to build up front muscle and action is to get a set of shackles, they're like exercise bands for horses, it goes over their shoulders, or on the saddle and then connects to their front feet. With the extra resistance it helps build up their front, and also works the backend as well. You can find them at Bedfordtack.com under training devices. These really work nicely, but you can only use them about 5-10 minutes at a time b/c just like people, horses get sore too. Just don't over do it!! And make sure the horse is warmed up good before using these to prevent injury, and after the workout I always rub them down with liniment as well.

[Haley]

First of all, I really don't think much of your smartass remarks, the girl asked for help not a damn arguement on how you want to argue with me about how everything I do is wrong. Now just a little FYI for you, a big stride is a GOOD THING in the Walking horse industry, now if the horse is overstriding, no big deal if they're stepping on themselves, shit happens such as pulled shoes. ....Now I know we tend to do things completely different than flat gaited horse people and there should be nothing wrong with that. Different breed of horses require different needs and training methods. I've ridden and trained all dispositions, so I know it's very contraversial as well as political, but that's just the way it is. You may not agree with how I do things and you also might think differently than I do about conformation, but I think everyone on here should respect everyone's different opinions.

She is not arguing in the least - you are overreacting and creating an argument yourself. She does respect your opinions, and she doesn't get sensitive when you disagree with her. If you would consider her advice (you don't have to accept it), as she only has safety and the horse's well-being in mind, we could actually have a civilized conversation. She is not being a smartass unless you make her out to be. You can educate us all without acting insulted and defensive.

[silverleprichuan]

She is not arguing in the least - you are overreacting and creating an argument yourself. She does respect your opinions, and she doesn't get sensitive when you disagree with her. If you would consider her advice (you don't have to accept it), as she only has safety and the horse's well-being in mind, we could actually have a civilized conversation. She is not being a smartass unless you make her out to be. You can educate us all without acting insulted and defensive.


Thank you very much, that was very well put

[saddleseatsweetie]

always check the rule book and have the shoes as thick as they allow because that will help the horse raise up. i completely agree with the gaited lady that is helping you out but just so you know just because you horse does the gait right and is a morgan doesnt mean that she can lift up high enough to have you winning classes. some horses just cant do it and if that is the case then just try doing some hunter with her. just make sure you keep that in mind im not saying that thats how it is but there is a possibility do what is easiest on the horse. i wanted my horse to be a hunter horse but hes not built to do that so i kept him a saddle seat horse because hes naturally built to do that