Lifting.

[HorseDayz11]

Does anyone know how to train horses to lift?
Rose is a Morgan - Saddle Horse mix. She knows how to gait.
I have trained her to do that, but I want to get more showmanship.
Esp. this year in shows. I'd like to teach her to lift, but I don't know how.


Help?

[alliekk]

What do you mean by lifting?

[HorseDayz11]

Okay, well gaited horses have a four-beat gait, as most people know.
She has a gorgeous gait so I've been told, but her front feet should
lift off the ground like a racking horse. Because that's basically what
her gait is, a rack. She should sit deeper on her hind legs. It's hard to
explain, but I hope it helps. Maybe I'll get some pictures of what I want.

[HorseDayz11]

What I want:
http://i30.tinypic.com/n70aow.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/2rzrl1f.jpg

About her lift:
Look in my pictures. There is one or two of her racking.

[alliekk]

I guess I've never heard the term "lifting" before, but I know what you're talking about.

The methods *most* trainers use to get a horse to lift like that are inhumane. A horse shouldn't *naturally* lift that high. You can see the chains on their pasturns and I'll bet by the horse's expression he's not comfortable and might have acid or something uncomfortable under his blocks. While I don't think the chains are necessarily inhumane, I don't think they are the only reasons these horses lift so high.

You can start with a lifted shoe, maybe just a 1" at first, or whatever your farrier recomends. Sit deep in your seat, put your legs just a little more forward, hold her head up a little higher, and ask for more speed. She should respond. If she doesn't then she's probably not going to go any higher without unnatural methods (this is after you've worked with her more than just a few times).

Here's an article that may fill you in on how flashy they get horses to look unnaturally: (you must be able to have Adobe Reader to see it) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_welfare/content/printable_version/Horse_Protection_6-3-5.pdf

[HorseDayz11]

Ah, thanks. I don't want to do anything to hurt Rose, so I will stick with the natural way. Thank you for that, I will try that. I have been told her gait is gorgeous and wonderful, but at the bigger shows the horses are way more "lifted". Anyway, I don't put shoes on Rose, so I can't do that either.

Thanks for your help (:

[alliekk]

An easier way to get a gait would be to use a cut back saddle, or also known as "saddle seat". It's similar to a dressage saddle except it's nearly flat and is cut way back in the pommel to give more room for a lifted shoulder. It sits farther back on the horse so he can move freely with his front end while still working the crud out of his hind quarters. You don't have to buy a fancy $1500 cut back, just go to an auction or online and you can find one for cheap. When you have the saddle the discipline calls for you will see better results.

P.S. When I said "lift her head higher" I didn't mean pull her head up, which it may have sounded like, but hold your hands up about even with your chest and allow her to keep constant pressure on the bit (not you pulling on her mouth, but her holding the bit).

[HorseDayz11]

I don't have any extra money or enough room for yet another saddle.

But thanks (:

[alliekk]

Just a suggestion, you'll get the best results with one.

[crazy4horses]

Don't those trainers who teach thier horse to "lift" but chains around thier pasturns so the horse will pick up thier feet!??!

[alliekk]

Yeah, but the chains aren't necessarily the inhumane part of the training. Read the link I posted. It explanes "Soring" to get that action.