 | ||||
| ||||
Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > 'Tails' From the Trails > Off Topic Forum > How did you get into gaited horses? |
| | ||||
| ||||
Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > 'Tails' From the Trails > Off Topic Forum > How did you get into gaited horses? |
| Moderated by: sdlepal |
|
||||||||||||||
| How did you get into gaited horses? | Rate Topic |
| Author | Post |
|---|
| Posted: Tue Feb 3rd, 2009 04:01 pm |
|
1st Post |
|
PrideNglory G.O.G Community Member
|
Well it all started when I found out that I have a slight scolios (sp?) and that i need to a comfy horse to ride. And one of my freinds invited me down to ride one of his Tennese walkers and he had me get on his 2 yo gelding and I abs loved him, he was soo sweet and ever since then i started going down to his place to ride and we bought him a month later. And then in 07 I started to ride at Mystic meadows tennese walker farm and begun with lessons and then we took him down there for more training and ever since then I have been riding, showing and working with tennese walking horses. but I still have my 2 bouncy babysto1
____________________ love my boys <3 Pride and Glory- 4yo sorrel tennese walker Rock views montana- 5yo black/white paint Elmos War cloud- 9yo spotted red roan appaloosa |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon Feb 2nd, 2009 04:04 pm |
|
2nd Post |
|
LezleJ G.O.G Community Member 
|
My first horse was my daughter Marlee's pony that my neighbor let me keep for free at their barn. The pony was a gift (tack and all) from my best childhood friend who was closing down her barn in Fla and need a home for this elderly pony with a few good years left in her. This, as my husband says, was the beginning of the end! My next horse was a new 14'2" pony hunter prospect for Marlee. After Marlee decided that soccer was her true love (she is now on scholorship at UTC) I inherited Hershy. I trained her as a pony hunter and sold her to a little girl at a friend's barn. There were a few other QH's along the way but since I am turning 50 this year and have the usual Knee/Ankle issues that we mature women typically experience, I decided that since I was retiring my 30 yr old QH I would look into a gaited horse. I did my research and looked on line for about a year and liked what I read about the Rocky/Kentucky Mountain Horse. They are really just big dogs that can be ridden!! This is certainly true of my Sadie. She runs to me from the field comming when ever she is called. Absolutely no vices and a lovely ride. I couldn't be happier!! LezleJ
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Jan 30th, 2009 03:47 pm |
|
3rd Post |
|
BritinMO G.O.G Community Member 
|
2 words sum up how I got into foxtrotters! My husband! I first started riding when I was 6 years old, then went on to train 3 day eventers, racehorses, and showjumpers for a living until I was 21 - sense kicked in - and I decided that I better get a 'proper' job that actually paid a decent wage that I could live on! So I dropped out of the riding scene for quite a few years, got married, had 2 children, got divorced and on it went. I very occasionally went for a ride with a friend, but that was about it, horses were way too expensive for me to even consider at that time in my life. Wham bam, suddenly completely out of the blue, I meet my future husband! He was in England working (he is American), and we met in a restuarant, me on my own reading a book at a table (I was away on business as well) and him entertaining a client at the next table! We got chatting (like you do;) and we had so much in common, but I didn't think too much about it as he lived thousands of miles away from me. We kept in touch by phone and email after he returned to the States, and he came over to England a few times when he was working. He invited me out to his home the next summer, and I came over for 2 weeks. At that time he had 4 horses, 3 foxtrotters and a TWH. I had never ridden western, let alone a gaited horse! But climbing back in the saddle again was just one more part of the dream come true. We had so much fun those 2 weeks, and my husband to be was even more thrilled that we shared a love of horses between us. I could not believe the wonderful nature of foxtrotters, and what a thrill to ride a gaited horse, I had to have a lot explained to me as it was a completely new experience! To cut a long story short and many trips over here later, we decided that we had to spend the rest of our lives together, and we got married at the top of the Stratosphere in Vegas in January 2005. We have changed the herd around a bit since, sold a couple of horses that we weren't riding very much, and now have 4 foxtrotters. My husband still travels to Europe, China etc - and I am lucky to work from home. We spend as much time as we can out on the trails, its just such a wonderful thing to be able to do. I feel very grateful that although my life changed dramatically when I moved over here, it changed for the better, and I once again I could be involved with horses. It really was and is the 'icing on the cake';)
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Jan 25th, 2009 12:45 am |
|
4th Post |
|
A Star in my Pocket G.O.G Community Member 
|
I was born a horse junkie. Inherited this addiction from my mother and my aunt so I was born riding. Back in 1987 I got tossed from my precious yet fresh Appy mare and landed on the small of my back on a hump in the ground. Felt like someone was holding a blow torch there for about 7 weeks. Always have had trouble with back since. Found out about 6 months ago that I had Advanced Degenerative Disc Disease. We all get disc disease but mine is about 20 years ahead of it's time. Riding stock horses would leave me unable to walk the next day and my knees would hurt like hades and my outter toes would go numb in the stirrups. I could only ride about 2-4 hours before I had to get off and walk awhile. So I got to thinkin'....I could still ride if I had a horse that did'nt bounce..a really smooth horse...a gaited horse. Sooo I was looking online one day, read an ad about a yearling SSH filly, asked for pics, open pics and gasped. I was in love with the cutest face ever. I bought her and am always impressed with her intelligence and loyalty and amazed with her infectious personality. (she's my avatar) I will NEVER buy another stock horse. It's gaited all the way. There's nothing like a Spotted Saddle Horse.
____________________ Listen! Or your tongue will make you deaf.--Cherokee Saying |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon Jan 5th, 2009 09:33 pm |
|
5th Post |
|
hatcherdm G.O.G Community Member
|
My first horse Ava was a quarterhorse and she had to be put down just 6 months after i got her due to the 90 lb uterine tumor she had. I started looking for another horse about 3-4 months later, and saw this gorgeous palomino adverstised on one of the websites. When i inquired about him, quickly learned he was way out of my price range, but the person that posted that ad mentioned she had a very sweet TWH that she didn't have time for, and was willing to put up for adoption. He had been treated poorly by previous owners--still bears the scars of the soring they put him through, and the only condition was no showing. Over the past 18 months, we have slowly bonded, and Rebel has been the best horse ever for me. Sometimes i miss the QH action, but doubt would ever go non-gaited again.
____________________ Diane |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Jan 4th, 2009 04:38 pm |
|
6th Post |
|
Ilovedraftandgaitedhorses G.O.G Community Member 
|
I started riding gaited horses in mid 2006 after my beloved appy cookie passed away due to cushings in his sleep I have had major back surgery so it hurts horribly to ride a horse who trots (i have a titaunium cage in my lower lumbar spine i got a wonderful twh gelding named jesse who sadly died due to neougical problems (he had a stroke the post mrtum said than i got charlie but he proved to high strung and due to risks of other neoragical problems i have i needed a super quiet horse so i traded charlie to his old owner for my beloved twh mare rosie She is the best little gaited mare in the worldand she is smooth as glass
____________________ I have a wonderful twh mare named Rosie :) |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Jan 3rd, 2009 12:39 pm |
|
7th Post |
|
stormzgaitzrgr8 G.O.G Community Member 
|
My story is of a pain in the neck, literally. I developed bulging discs after a long illness forced me to sleep sitting painfully upright for nearly a year... very bad for the neck. A chiropractor keeps me moving well most of the time, but riding a trotter is out of the question, and I just couldn't give up riding with my 17 yr. old daughter... it's the one thing that we do together. Gaited horses just seemed to make sense for someone with my issues... My husband bought me Storm, a 13 yr. old Walkaloosa, last year for our 27th anniversary. He was celebrating my return to better health (and will always rank as the best gift I've ever received, bar none). I had dreamed of owning a horse as a kid, but my family couldn't afford it... so I read every book that I could lay my hands on and rode whenever I could. I still have to pinch myself, sometimes... Storm is boarded very nearby and I see him almost every day. While we are still learning about each other, his trust in me is a gift that I treasure. This board has taught a novice how to be a better gaited horse owner. I thank you all.
____________________ Tracey (Stormzgaitzrgr8) |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Jan 3rd, 2009 05:19 am |
|
8th Post |
|
slipslider G.O.G Community Member 
|
I was slow to reply to this thread, because I do not have a great story. Mine is simple. My parents had ponie and horses when I was born. We did not have many two or three. The one horse was half saddlebred and did a slow rack. My cousin that lived across the road, raised and trained Quarter horses. So I grew up riding both. And I still do. I have always just like them all. So I now own ponies, Quarter horses and walkers. I just simply like all things equine, big or small. So far I have had the pleasure to own or ride, Quarter, Walker, Appy, Minis, Foxtrotter, Saddlebred, Paso, Donkey, Mule, and POA. I hope I get the chance to try some of the other breeds as well.
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC Life's journey is not to arrive safely in a grave in a well preserved body But rather to slide in sideways, Totally worn out, Yelling......What a Ride ! |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Jan 3rd, 2009 01:33 am |
|
9th Post |
|
sdlepal Ranch Hand 
|
Shelia, that was quite a story. I got my first pony in third grade, she was tied up in the yard when I got off the school bus. Her name was Fury, she was dark bay and as ornery as most ponies are, it took the whole family and ropes to corner her in the pasture just to catch her. My real friend was a reg. Appaloosa, got him when I was l3, kept him till he died at 29 years old. Then another best friend came along, I got a 4 yr. old Standardbred off the track, took him home and rode him for 18 years. I still have him. But to get to how I got into gaited horses... I was on a St. Judes ride with friends and I just mentioned that I was thinking about a spotted saddle horse. Well, my old friend I hadn't seen in a couple of years just happened to have one for sell, the prettest horse you ever saw she said. It took two weeks before I went to see him. Yea, you all know the rest of the story. It was love at first sight. My Cassey has the softest eyes with long lashes. He watches every move I make when he sees me. Just stands and waits for me to come to him. If he sees me at the kitchen window, he comes and just stands there and stares till I go give him an apple and pet him. He is 16.3 hands and probably weights 1200 pounds. He is my first gaited horse and that is how I found this mb and the great 4Beat products that I use on him. Everything gaited I have learned has come from you great people, thank you, Pam
____________________ Pam and Cowboy Casey |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Jan 2nd, 2009 12:44 pm |
|
10th Post |
|
ChampagneTobe G.O.G Community Member 
|
We had ponies when I was very little but i don't remember much about them other than that they used to be in the circus and did tricks. I remember we hauled them around one at a time in the back of our stationwagon! I don't know how they got in there, now. They were't minis. They would have had to crawl in. I'll have to ask the family about it. Anyway, it started the "horse fever" with me. All through the rest of my life until about 6 years ago, I always rode someone else's QH's or various other jumper types- Hanoverians and Traekners. My husband's boss bought three young TWH's then and just left them in the field. Never really did anything with them. We volunteered to care for them and we rode them all over the place. We were hooked on the glide ride, but I knew I was never going to have a TWH because their heads were just TOO BIG!! Lo and behold when I bought my first horses, they were both TWH's. It was meant to be. The rest is history! CT
____________________ shameless self-promotion: www.tbuckalewphotography.com "God forbid I should go to a heaven where there are no horses" R.B. Cunningham Graham |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 07:24 pm |
|
11th Post |
|
SPOTD RIDR G.O.G Community Member 
|
Wow shelia your horse ownership sure started out scary ! Karal I just love your uterine tumor ! Well yall probably remember me saying I just wanted spots, I love a overo paints looks, but hubby was like heck no, you are getting a walking horse, and they come with spots. So I looked for a few months nothing caught my attention till I ran across the ad for Mira 16h, mare, 7yr, green broke,blk/wht spotted and 30 min from my house, but of course my intial though was she was perfect conformation like we like, just her spots were not quite placed well enough, "I thought", but I now look for what I call a saddle marked horse,when you put a saddle on it does not hide all the color, so Mira's white is perfect, I said I will look around a little more. Hubby was like in love at first sight, I looked around for about 2-3 mths and quickly realized what a nice mare Mira the first horse I looked at was, so I called the owners back and they said they had changed there minds and had taken her off the market, but then said "now which couple where you" so we reminded them they said aahh, come on back out, they had some really bad prospective owners and would not sell her to just anyone, but they felt good about us. We test rode her and hubby had her gaiting and came back with a HUGE smile on his face, I told the lady, he likes her, so I bought her on my hubbys say so that it would all work out. Now Cruz I was looking for a Stud to bred Mira to and was calling all the local TWH barns I could get in contact with and I was refered to H.H.S. , 45 min from me, about a spotted stud they showed for a client, so I had looked up there website and ran across the horses for sale link at agdirect they had at there barn and Cruz picture caught my eye, he was rump high and coltish still, but man was he ever lit up and nice symetrical markings which I am very drawn too, so I asked about the stud, then asked if the Blue Roan was still available, so he gave me all the info and I set up a time to see him. Well I was a little dissappointed when I first saw Cruz, he was very skinny and so lethargic, but the sweetest puppy dog eyes, the B.O. rode him for me and I told him I would think about it, so a week later I went back and rode him and was promised that even once we got him in good weight he would remain a really laid back dude, so I took another chance on a green broke 3yr old for my second horse ! Well guess what I had the group of 10 we ride with just on our last trip tell me how lucky I was to get 2 such really great horses for my first ones, then one of the girls chimmed in and said thats not luck, she's just to dang picky, that she would not jump on the first thing she seen ! So my quest for asthetic beauty in my eyes paid off in the form of the total packages for me, how lucky can you get.
____________________ JoAngela "Jo" |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 03:42 pm |
|
12th Post |
|
Karal G.O.G Community Member 
|
sheila - what a great story and scary one. I am glad everything worked out and safe for you and horses. I have had a few scary trailer stories. I love my stock trailer with no mangers in it. Will never own a small 2 place trailer with mangers again! tmdeck - all stories that have a happy ending is a great story. It's great that you found your perfect horse. tu1
____________________ live - laugh - love |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 03:27 pm |
|
13th Post |
|
tmdeck G.O.G Community Member 
|
your stories and photos are so beautiful-mine not so much. i have bad knees and hurt everytime i rode so i thought "gaited horse". found gypsy and fell in love. i wanted one that anyone could ride (i have always had freaks that no one else could ride) but i couldn't pass up on gypsy's attitude and personality. she is perfect for me. Attachment: 010.JPG (Downloaded 159 times)
____________________ tammy |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 01:29 pm |
|
14th Post |
|
sheilazav G.O.G Community Member 
|
What a great story! And beautiful pictures!! My daughter and I went to a Paso Fino show years ago. I knew nothing at all about gaited horses but became instantly fascinated. To hear them go over the sounding board was just amazing. She took lessons at a Paso farm about 30 minutes from my house and I rode a few times. Really attracted to the smoothness and size but kind of nervous with the brio they had. Didn't really know there were other options until she rode the most beautiful TWH. His name was General and he was about 16 hands of wonderful temperament, agility, willingness and looks. We were hooked!! Began looking for TWHs of my own. Discovered Prowler on the web at Adams Horse and Mule Co. Took one look and knew he was for me. Eric Adams listened to my story about being a timid rider and said Prowler wasn't for me. He was too young (3 at the time). But the heart wants what the heart wants. My husband wanted Tramp who was listed as a deadbroke horse which sounded perfect for my husband who had never ridden. (Funny thing was that we found out AFTER we found Prowler and Tramp that General was purchased from Adams! Coincidence!!) When we got to their farm, Tramp was tied in the aisle of the barn and Prowler was in a stall. I spoke gently to Prowler and he plastered himself to the far wall, wild-eyed! Was petrified of me. Eric said he needed a gentle handler. Well, I thought, that's me! I spent time speaking to Prowler and approaching slowly. Finally brushed him and rubbed him. After about 10 minutes, he followed me to the door of the stall as I was leaving. I like a horse that likes affection so that seemed like a good sign. Didn't know if it was a mistake but I could not stand the thought of someone rough owning him so we bought both horses and made plans to pick them up the following morning. I fretted all night. I wanted a calm, trustworthy horse to help me with my confidence. What had we done?! Buyer's remorse set in. Picked them up the next morning. Prowler loaded like a champ. Tramp was more difficult but we eventually were on our way. They were in Kentucky and we had to head home to Georgia. We stopped every 2 hours to offer water and check on them. All seemed fine until we got to Forsyth, GA which is about 30 minutes from our barn. The trailer was borrowed and old. We had replaced all tires and the complete floor before we left home but one of the front windows (in front of Prowler) had a crack in it. We used clear shipping take to secure it from the inside and the outside. Well, we were riding down Interstate 75 and the trailer shook drastically!! I turned around and the window had blown in! I knew that the window could've hit Prowler and that hay and wind were probably blowing harshly at him. We pulled over on the side of the interstate and got out to see what was going on. Okay. Picture this. Prowler was on the driver's side. When we opened the door, his left front foot was on the hay manger, his right leg was completely over Tramp's back and his head was behind the front and high part of the divider facing BACKWARDS!! We couldn't unload them on the side of the interstate so had to pull off at an exit. Luckily, there was one right by us. We pulled to a parking lot of a closed business. Unloaded Tramp and my daughter walked him away to graze. Now, it is late July in Georgia and hot as hell. Literally. Prowler was already dripping sweat. When I opened the escape door (which was on the passenger side), he tried to go over the divider and come out! I spoke calmly to him and tried to take the weight off of his right leg. His leg was over the divider and all his front weight was on his left leg on the manger and at his girth area. We had NO idea what to do!! Well, how is this for divine intervention? We were standing there trying to make decisions when a truck pulled up. A guy got out and said he noticed we were having problems. I asked if he knew anything about horses and he was a FARRIER!!! Seriously, what are the odds? Keith, the farrier, said there is no way Prowler would get out of that without at least a dislocated shoulder. I was still holding his foot up so the divider wouldn't cut him. I used one hand to get his halter (his head was by me since it was turned backwards) and gently encouraged him to back up. He did. I worried what it would do to his right shoulder when his left leg was off of the manger but we had no choice. He backed up until his back feet were off of the trailer. Head was still inside, right hoof was still over the divider. (It was the kind that can't be removed. NEVER own one of those!!) His right leg was up HIGH! He pulled his head out and kind of reared up a couple of times and then got his right foot out onto the correct side with his left. Then he backed all the way out. Now he was standing on the ground, sweaty and trembling. After a few minutes, Keith asked me to walk him to see the damage. He walked perfectly!!!!! He had a couple of very minor cuts but that was it! MIRACLE!! I knew they wouldn't load back in the trailer and worried how we would get them home. Well, Prowler hopped right back on and so did Tramp! Showed me how sensible Prowler is. I fell head-over-heels in love with him then. No matter what happened, it wasn't a mistake that I bought him. I've spent 1 1/2 years teaching him and learning from him. He is my sweet, sensitive, beautiful, smart, silly, precious boy and I still get that warmth in my chest and giggles in my belly when I'm around him. Edited to mention that the farrier had 17 TWHs and is our farrier to this day! Attachment: Kissing.jpg (Downloaded 164 times) Last edited on Thu Jan 1st, 2009 01:39 pm by sheilazav ____________________ The horse through all its trials has preserved the sweetness of paradise in its blood. ~Johannes Jensen |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 01:11 pm |
|
15th Post |
|
Karal G.O.G Community Member
|
I fell into my first gaited horse. My DH to be, had a TWH, I had a QH and a Morab. A couple years before I had a Pinto stud and a Morgan mare. (Morab's mama). I let the 2 run together for a year. They were both awesome horses. The Morgan was getting on in age, but was a great barrel racing horse. I knew someone that was looking for a safe horse for the child. I had the mare ultra sound to see if she was pg. It showed a blob, so I thought she was pg, vet said no it was a uterine tumor. I sold her. Well she had the most beautiful uterine tumor. Fast forward 2 years. I get a call from a friend that said the girl I sold the mare to was getting divorced and I could get the filly for next to nuttin'. So I did. We came home with the most bitchy, ornery, mean 2 yr old ever. DH wanted to run her through an aution, just to get rid of her. I said no I owe it to her to at least train her before being sold. One day while watching her I said hey she is not trotting, what is she doing? I worked with her. She had no stopping, would go up in the air. Found out she had a broken wolfs tooth. Much better after that. She still is a strong headed mare, but I love her to death. Has a few quirks, but nothing I can't handle. She only grew to 14 hands but she carries me without a problem. She is a blast to ride! Some day if I ever figure how to post a video, I will have too. Some say she looks to be foxtrotting, I am still guessing a rack, from watching the video we have of her. I don't care she is gaiting! Now we have her son(bred her to a foxtrotter) and we have a MFT and a Morab, and DH TWH. This is a picture of my uterine tumor LOL l1 Attachment: 2007 Cheyloh & Bibs 002.jpg (Downloaded 165 times) Last edited on Thu Jan 1st, 2009 01:12 pm by Karal ____________________ live - laugh - love |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 09:05 am |
|
16th Post |
|
BaynesSolanoFlame G.O.G Community Member 
|
And here is the sweet, if not so smooth riding, Foxfire's Moon Shadow (Shadow) a TWH gelding. Attachment: MeandShadow 001 (1169 x 850).jpg (Downloaded 169 times)
____________________ Whoever said the word "Ba(y)ne" is a bad thing didn't know my horse! |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 09:02 am |
|
17th Post |
|
BaynesSolanoFlame G.O.G Community Member
|
Here's a pic. of the nutball horse, Dodger Bill (Comanche) an Appy. Attachment: Comanche 001.jpg (Downloaded 172 times)
____________________ Whoever said the word "Ba(y)ne" is a bad thing didn't know my horse! |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 1st, 2009 08:50 am |
|
18th Post |
|
BaynesSolanoFlame G.O.G Community Member
|
I love gaited horses, but amazingly, I didn't start riding them until my mid-teens! I've ridden since I was very small. Being a good ole' country bred and raised girl in LA (Lower Alabama) I was practically born knowing how to ride. I've been to so many different riding schools, both english & western, that I can't remember the names of them all. But I didn't get my first horse until I was 13 because my parents wanted to be sure I was knowledgable enough to care for it on my own. My grandparents took me to a lady's house who was selling 3 horses. She had a 4 year old Appy gelding for sale that I DIDN'T want considering that he bucked off his owner during the test ride. Well, my grandpa went against my wishes and bought him anyway, stating that he was just green-broke and would grow out of it. "Comanche" continued to buck EVERYBODY off, including me several times, for 4 years. The vet said that there wasn't anything physically wrong with him and his tack was "fit checked" many times. Even the vet told me that some horses are just "a few sandwiches short of a pic-nic" and I'd be better off finding a better match for me. Then, after a particularly bad buck that slipped a disc in my lower back, I was finally able to convince my Mom to let me sell him at auction. A reputable local horse trainer bought him, but I don't know what happened to Comanche after that. The doctor that told me what was wrong with my back was the person who suggested I try a gaited horse. Unfortunately, I didn't know one thing about gaited horses other than their breed descriptions. Within the year, I'd purchased a big bay TWH gelding that was super sweet and easy to handle. But he always trotted! If it hadn't been for him doing a slight running walk the day I bought him, I probably wouldn't have gotten him at all. Also, I didn't have any friends with gaited horses and no computer. Knowing then what I know now from Brenda's teachings, I probably would've kept "Shadow". My back began bothering me again, so I sold him to a very nice lady who needed a trail horse for her young daughter. They hit it off right away with Shadow and still own him. Flash forward to Fall 2003, I'm in my freshman year of college and riding on the AHSA english and western pleasure teams for Judson Women's College in Marion, AL. My best friend at the time was boarding her OTTB at our trainer's house and I missed having a horse of my own and wanted to buy another with the money I'd saved. My trainer told me about a local horse trainer/trader who dealt in QH and gaited horses. So I went to see him. The day I went, he had about 10 gaited horses for me to try out. Most of them were TWH as that's what a lot of southerners like most. I tried one after the other and none of them were right for me. I was so upset when the last horse I tried out, a 2 year old TWH colt, was REALLY bumpy in his running walk and I was about to leave. Suddenly I heard a loud nicker and looked over at a big wooden barrier in the corner of the indoor arena. I hadn't realized it before, but it was a huge stall! Then I saw a big brown nose poking over the door. I asked the horse trader who the horse was. He told me that he'd just gotten that gelding in and had forgotten he was even in the stall. The most he could tell me was it's name, age, and the fact that it's previous owner trail rode him, and was from Florida. He took a halter and lead rope off the wall and went in to get him. I held my breath as a big, 16.1 hh, chocolate pal. gelding quitely walked out. Being only 5'1" myself, I usually don't ride horses that tall unless I know them. I mean, that IS a long way to fall! I asked the man if the horse, later to be known as "Bayne", was rideable. He said yes and tied the leadrope to the other side of the halter and I climbed on bareback. It was the smoothest running walk I'd EVER felt. Bayne was breezing on at a nice clip but I could barely even feel his footfalls. I paid $1,500 for him that very day and he was delivered to my trainer's house a few days later. Bayne and I both discovered later on that we loved to do different things: jumping, barrel racing, pole-bending, trail riding, etc. A lot of people told me that this would ruin his gait, but Bayne enjoys these things as much as I do and isn't happy unless he gets to change up the routine every so often. Yet his running walk has stayed as smooth and fun as that very first day I rode him. Bayne and I have been through so much together from our good times to the bad, (those stories will be saved for future posts, lol) and I'm so grateful that he nickered when he did. I think, on some unexplainable deep level, Bayne knew that he was the perfect horse for me and let me know before I walked out of that arena door. No matter what happens, he'll always have a home with me because he's more than just a horse...he's family. The pic was taken in early 2004 on Judson's jump course. Bayne's mane and tail were stained orange from the Alabama mud. Attachment: jumping Bayne 001.jpg (Downloaded 171 times)
____________________ Whoever said the word "Ba(y)ne" is a bad thing didn't know my horse! |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Current time is 09:40 pm | |
| Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > 'Tails' From the Trails > Off Topic Forum > How did you get into gaited horses? | Top |
