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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Welcome To Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Forum > New members stop in and say hello! > Hello with a new TWH and a few questions |
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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Welcome To Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Forum > New members stop in and say hello! > Hello with a new TWH and a few questions |
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| Hello with a new TWH and a few questions | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 1st, 2011 01:15 pm |
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1st Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member 
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Hi folks! I was just given a 13 year old TWH mare. Poor girl is a rack of bones. The people I got her from only had her a short time. They got her to get her out of a bad situation. They can't tell me much about her. I've had horses all my life, I'm 52. Isn't the first rack of bones I've been given either. My question is more for future reference. Much as I hated to the people that gave her to me insisted I ride her before I took her home. I went up and down the driveway twice and got off. She stands quiet to mount/dismount. Good thing, she is 16 hands and I'm a 5'4" chubby housewife. But I noticed that she was totally unresponsive to leg and seat. I suspect she was a camp/lesson horse and was desensitized to conflicting cues from beginner riders. Very sweet mare. Now I know that once she's feeling better and getting regular food she is going to perk up some but I am wondering how to make her responsive to a rider once again. For now it's just good food and a few treats and letting her heal. Vet has been over her. Just needs food. Very gaited. Uses her gaits out in the 18 acre pasture to follow and escape my pony witch. I'm actually pretty psyched about this mare. I promised myself to get another gaited horse when my crazy old gelding passed. As a young woman I always had the hottest horse I could find. Now I'm a whole lot more aware of my mortality and know I don't bounce as well as I once did. I had a gaited standarbred once and I loved her running walk. The arthritis in my back and neck loved that running walk. It will be a couple months before I even just take her around the field a couple of times. By that time I will be snow covered so won't get much riding in. Plenty of time to get ideas and just make friends.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 1st, 2011 02:17 pm |
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2nd Post |
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NOELLEE G.O.G Community Member 
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Congrats on your new horse. We would love to see pictures one day! On getting her responding to body cues again, you might want to consider the IMUS Comfort bit. I would trail ride her at a dog walk where she has to weave and turn on winding trails and use my leg and seat cues constantly to nativigate her while letting the trail do part of the lead too. Only use my reins/hands if really needed to nativigate or stop her. She will learn this is her way of riding with You and become responsive to your touch this way. If it was me, I would be her only rider, so not to confuse her when you are in a teaching mode again.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 1st, 2011 03:30 pm |
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3rd Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member
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I'd be embarrassed to post pictures of the poor thing now. Skinny and full of rain rot but her coat is a pretty pale red sorrel. I expect it will darken and redden up with nutrition. Has a thick mane and tail that drags the ground in dreadlocks now. Hopefully I can work it out without cutting it. Most of the horses I've owned I spent a lot of time slowing them down and desensitizing them to things not the other way around. Kind of at a lose for ideas. My old pacing standardbred...we just kind of found each others cues for gaits. She wanted to always go, go, go. I didn't think a 19 year old mare should go like a 4 year old. Her running walk was a compromise that worked wonderfully on our mountain roads. I will pretty much be the only rider. I say pretty much because I have a 19 year old daughter and I know at some point it will be too much temptation for the girl to resist but she won't do anything unkind so I'm not too worried. She has already warned her boyfriend that I do not tolerate stupid well at all. She has her own small and round appy mare that she can get on and off and ride by just clipping lead ropes to a halter. She will think tacking up a tall horse in a way that mother won't boot her in the butt is just too much work. She will stick with her smiling appy pony.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 1st, 2011 05:54 pm |
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4th Post |
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NOELLEE G.O.G Community Member
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I rescued a horse once very skinny and with rain rot... he turned out beautiful in about 4 months, and his current owner is very happy with him, just takes a little time  . Once you are able to start riding her, I would just consistently show her your leg and seat cues. I taught both my 11yr TWH and my then 9yr QH how to listen to my leg and seat cues... both already rode with a soft hand, but it seemed their prior owners might have rode just off the bit and reins. But I love the ease of using my body and legs to communicate, and how beautiful it is for them to ride with a natural headset, no tossing, or sass from the bit at any time. When I get on a nice mellow trail stretch, I consistently lay down the reins, the more the trails winds the better, and pressed my leg/heel into the opposite side I want them to turn into. They seemed to naturally move off this pressure after a few trail rides no matter what we cross or how we speed up, I practice this. You can also do this very well on slow group trail rides, no matter what position you are in line. Sometimes if my QH does not listen fast enough to keep me from touching a tree, I might do a little light tap, tap, tap with my toe as I lean pressure in with my leg, but I never kick, he always responds. I keep the reins lightly slack, don't engage the bit unless I have to. All three of my horses, two QHs and one TWH gelding, ride in this manner. My young QH was pro-trained in reigning/cutting and it is all he knows. When my TWH is on an open path and we move off into a rack or a running or flat walk, I do pick up the reins and hold in place to keep his head nod and swing and feet consistent and out of any pacing. When we gallop, because he moves like a thoroughbred, I keep the reins at the proper intake and ride more jockey-style over the shoulder. But even at this speed as soon as I sit back with my weight, he slows down and will whoa as I touch one flank as a cue. So probably like you taught your standardbred mare the cues between you, it willl be this way again. Once your new horse realizes you are not in her mouth to direct her, she will fall into this lovely style of riding! And probably never want to go back to beginners!! You may spoil her Yeah, I know about teen girls... we have a lovely petite TWH mare, and she is rode by a teen that does the best job making her into a horse any beginner can ride! But then that is what makes her a very lovely mare we can trust
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| Posted: Tue Nov 1st, 2011 05:54 pm |
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5th Post |
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NOELLEE G.O.G Community Member
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Posted twice! so deleted the 2nd one s5 Last edited on Tue Nov 1st, 2011 05:55 pm by NOELLEE |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 1st, 2011 08:44 pm |
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6th Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member
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Trails I've got. Live in an area that is crisscrossed with snowmobile trails. I'm in a small river valley in the White Mountains of NH. I'm pretty much stuck riding alone. I live in the middle of nowhere. One of the reasons I'm so happy about having a horse once again where I wasn't taking my life into my hands every moment of the ride.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 2nd, 2011 12:15 am |
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7th Post |
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GoneGaited2 G.O.G Community Member 
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Welcome ~ Lots of Helpful GOG Family Here ..
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| Posted: Wed Nov 2nd, 2011 12:41 am |
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8th Post |
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wannabecowgirl G.O.G Community Member 
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Welcome from north florida here! I am 52 also and pretty much now find myself not wanting to ride but only my own horse! I know I wouldn't bounce like I used to either! I have a husband who rides and we each have a paso fino. We also have a beautiful paint that our teenage daughter has loss interest in! ( I really thought she had my "sickness" lol as only you all here can relate!) Bout broke my heart when she finally said "MOM, I really don't want to ride anymore!!!  I could hardly believe my ears!! I had to wait my whole life, and have only had horses the last 6 years, I can't even begin to imagine life without horses now!!  anyway sorry to ramble, your mare sounds great, with her sweet temperment and your TLC I hope you have a great new companion and trail partner! I know you'll find of lots of really great help and advice here!
____________________ The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 2nd, 2011 12:41 am |
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9th Post |
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wannabecowgirl G.O.G Community Member
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Welcome from north florida here! I am 52 also and pretty much now find myself not wanting to ride but only my own horse! I know I wouldn't bounce like I used to either! I have a husband who rides and we each have a paso fino. We also have a beautiful paint that our teenage daughter has loss interest in! ( I really thought she had my "sickness" lol as only you all here can relate!) Bout broke my heart when she finally said "MOM, I really don't want to ride anymore!!! I could hardly believe my ears!! I had to wait my whole life, and have only had horses the last 6 years, I can't even begin to imagine life without horses now!! anyway sorry to ramble, your mare sounds great, with her sweet temperment and your TLC I hope you have a great new companion and trail partner! I know you'll find of lots of really great help and advice here!
____________________ The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 2nd, 2011 01:25 am |
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10th Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member 
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Since you have all winter to read and learn I am sure you find the answer you seek. But i do think trying to speed a horse up is much easier then trying to slow one down. Much better problem to have in my opinion. It is according to the horse which technique i use, so just try different ones until you find the one that works best for you. The first thing i would do is to teach ground work, since this will be something you can do when weather is good while your horse is gaining weight and will help it to get into shape. This is what i do (and everyone has there on cues). I cluck to my horse for the walk when lunging. I cluck twice for the next speed and i kiss for the canter. You will be surprised at how fast they pick this up. I find this very helpful once i get in the saddle, then the horse knows exactly what i am asking for. But once you are in the saddle, then i will squeeze with my legs only as hard as necessary, if that fails then i will bump my legs against the sides (do this along with the cluck). If that fails then i will add a slap from the reins or a slight pop from the a riding crop if necessary. Any or all these things i mentioned above will usually do the trick. But if a horse is very dull and these methods are not working well. And do give them time to work. I will then use spurs. I use the short dull ones. With spurs, i will do the same thing as described above, but instead of the reins or crop, if the horse does not respond, I will lightly put the spurs against their sides and again only use as much pressure as necessary to get the response you desire. Soon the horse will listen and you will no longer need them. Your goal will be to get the horse to respond, but in time you want it to respond with less and less pressure until you do not have to use spurs, crop or rein pop at all. I have found this to work very quickly. You just have to let the horse know what you are asking and then demand that it responds. Sounds to me you have a wonderful horse. Happy trails 
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 2nd, 2011 10:46 am |
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11th Post |
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sdlepal Ranch Hand 
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Hello Sue, welcome! It sounds like you have an awesome project to keep you busy this winter. With a little TLC and back to some basic training you may just have a good trail partner there. There is a lot of information on the home page. Brenda has a great book out called the Gaited Horse Bible. A lot of GOG family here that has the knowledge to lend some advise. Enjoy your stay and keep us posted on your new girl.
____________________ Pam and Cowboy Casey |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 3rd, 2011 01:54 pm |
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12th Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member
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Thanks for the warm welcome! What a nice friendly bunch here. Gaited horses are kind of a rare sighting here except for ex harness racers and most people try to train the pace out of them. They want the hunter/jumper horses. Always the heretic I encouraged my old mares gaits. She would even speed rack if I would let her. Sometimes I did let the old girl go for a stretch. I had no idea about speed racking. Just knew I was reaching top speed without rocking my back and brains apart. I loaded a bunch of youtube clips trying to watch and see what the riders were doing to cue there horses up. Unfortunately most focused on the horses feet going a mile a minute rather than the rider but I pretty much realized what I did to get my old horse gaiting in something other than a racing pace. I rode her with a sheepskin covered bosal and she would lean into it to get her rhythm and once she got it I could slack up. The first couple times I was holding her back and getting frustrated my hands came up a bit. After that we both figured out how to go without annoying each other. Lot of good miles and memories. Still miss the old girl. (precious is also the look on your non-riding husbands face when he wanted to test drive the running walk and found himself going at a top end racing pace because he over cued. Fortunately she was more than happy to come back to me for blob removal.)
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| Posted: Mon Nov 7th, 2011 01:29 am |
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13th Post |
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grpride G.O.G Community Member 
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Hi Sue! It's going to be great to be able to watch the two of you come together. Please keep us posted as your new relationship begins to gel!
____________________ Susan and Nugget |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 9th, 2011 12:56 pm |
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14th Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member
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http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/82/fostesky1/katie11-03-11.jpg The lone ranger was making me dizzy. http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/ 82/fostesky1/That's the album where the pictures are. First 2 are of the TWH. The rest are gardens, yard, chickens, whatever. It is going to be a while gaining. I also have a pretty nasty case of rain rot to deal with. The weather has been with me. No rain and on the warm side for November here so I've been able to treat it. Not sure how I will deal with it once we go back to freezing. Still have some green grass out there which is unusual for this time of year. In a way I'm kind of glad it's late in the year. Think I would have been afraid to let her loose on grass in the spring. I know I said I wasn't going to post pictures of her but figured it will be good to see the changes. Now I have to get a picture of her face not in a bucket of food. Last edited on Wed Nov 9th, 2011 07:08 pm by SueNH |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 9th, 2011 01:06 pm |
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15th Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member
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Pictures must be too big for this board. I'll figure it out.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 9th, 2011 02:39 pm |
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16th Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member
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i notice you are using photobucket, just scroll over the picture, when box pops up, highlight the code for IMG and then simply paste in reply box. Click preview under the reply box and you will know if it worked.
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 9th, 2011 04:34 pm |
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17th Post |
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NOELLEE G.O.G Community Member
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SueNH, I got rid of a very bad case of rain rot on one rescue horse as follows: One small bottle of Ivory Dishwashing Liquid (12oz) and one ounce bottle of Iodine tincture, shake together, soap up, scrub good. Rinse. Repeat if you need to. Then brush on heavy M.T.G. solution, found at most tack and farm stores, over every area the rain rot is showing up. Do the M.T.G once daily, and maybe every 5 days rebathe in the Ivory/Iodine wash to remove the debris building up. It cleared up fast within a week or so.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 9th, 2011 06:58 pm |
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18th Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member
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I've been alternating iodine and fung-away spray. It's going. The skin along her spine is nearly hairless. Not sure how I'm going to deal with it once the weather goes back to normal.Usually it's freezing and spitting snow. Even though it was 60 out I wasn't wanting to get her real wet. I worked the betadine into her skin with my fingers. Same with the other. The MTG is oily. What would that do to her coat as far as warmth? I'm kind of hesitant to put anything that will make her skinny self cold at this point. Temps are swinging right now from the mid 20's to 60. The pictures did work in the preview. I'm kinda stumped but it was so nice outside today I haven't been in much.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 9th, 2011 07:37 pm |
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19th Post |
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NOELLEE G.O.G Community Member
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SueNH, THis rescue horse was nearly hairless too, all along the back, rump and shoulders, worse case of rain rot I have ever seen. I liked the Ivory soap, softened the skin and kept it clean, while the iodine helped, but with your colder temps, the M.T.G. might be a good idea. Put some on your skin, stick it in the freezer and see how it feels... I would think it might retain warmth?? The MTG really helped to get the hair growth started. This horse had the nicest black coat within a month. It was summertime so I kept him in the shade to prevent sunburn. Do you have a shelter for the cold nights?
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| Posted: Wed Nov 9th, 2011 11:10 pm |
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20th Post |
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SueNH G.O.G Community Member
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They have a big run in. I suppose if it makes her miserable I could wash it out and blanket her with something for a bit. I've only had to deal with very mild cases in the spring. I had a belgian mare who would get it on her rump before her coat shed out nearly every spring. She didn't care for the barn and would rather tuck herself into some pines unless the weather was horrid. I would work iodine into it and then when she dried I would put powder for athletes foot down into her coat. Never had to deal with it pretty much along the entire top half of horse before. Looks like today was it for the warm weather too. I've got rain and snow showing up in the forecast for next several days.
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