How do you train a Tennessee Walking horse that paces to do the running walk?
toast_rider69 asked:
I normally help train hunters and Western Pleasure horses but I’ve been asked to help a student train her Tennessee Walker to be a show horse. His major problem is that he paces instead of doing the running walk. How do you fix that?
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I normally help train hunters and Western Pleasure horses but I’ve been asked to help a student train her Tennessee Walker to be a show horse. His major problem is that he paces instead of doing the running walk. How do you fix that?
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3 Responses to “How do you train a Tennessee Walking horse that paces to do the running walk?”
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The first thing you do is to ‘check up’ the horse. Most pacey TWH’s have simply been allowed to pace and have gotten into the habit. These can be corrected through checking up. This involves slowing the horse with the bit until it breaks it gait. Then while still holding back on the reins the horse is sped up with the legs. If the habit is too ingrained it will take a LOT of work to correct.
If checking up will not do it, then it is because the horse will not break out of the pace. Various methods are used on such horses.
Occasionally ankle chains on a few rides will break it. Pad the ankles so that no discomfort from the chains are felt. Only the bouncing and the noise is needed.
Re shoeing with a slightly shorter toe on the front foot. Careful here you do not want to overdo this as it can lame them. This is why that I only take a little extra off with a rasp, not a nippers.
On the trail change the terrain. A pace is harder for them to accomplish in rough or soft ground. So while riding down the gravel road, ease over near the side where the loose gravel is piled and ride there.
To be honest this is a job that if you are new to you will need help. There are subtle variances in the gaits that you will need to learn and be able to spot and correct.
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In the same way as you would train any other Tennessee Walking horse that places to do the running walk.
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A horse who paces has a hollow Back.
When you tuck the gaited horses head in it rounds out there back and makes it harder to pace because they tend to gait in a hollow back. In order to get the horse to tuck its head it is very similar to a half- halt. To start you take the reins and have full pressure with one rein (it doesn’t matter which) with the other rein you half- halt, which is give and take pressure to the rein. You may need to drop your hands to your hips. You may also put them lower if necessary. I have also found that if open your arm length to about where your knees are on the horse (while you are collecting your horse) they seem to tuck in more easily.
Once your horse has tucked in you can begin to raise your hands to a higher level on the saddle. You may notice that your horse will become un-collected and you will have to restart until they can keep there head tucked will the angle is tighter. I would suggest starting to collect your horse at the walk then progress onto the running walk, foxtrot, rack… etc. You may also try at the canter but I must warn you that if you have a horse with lots of energy they may try to buck since it easier to buck when the head is tucked in.