I know this has been touched on before, but I think it is an interesting subject and also a subject that fills some people raising babies with trepidation. My Andi will be 4 in April, and I got him when he was 11 months old. He gaited in hand a few times on walks, but honestly, I have seen nothing but trot in hand or at liberty for the past 3 years. This used to concern me a lot, but I have learned so much in the past 3 years, it doesn't garner a second thought anymore. For one thing, my 1/2 Arab, 1/2 TWH mare has taught me that what is done at liberty vs. under saddle can be 2 different things. Whisper showed a RW as a baby, then it disappeared untill she was under saddle for a couple of months. And only half of her background is gaited. It will be interesting to see how Andi's gait comes out after he is started under saddle. Of course, I could care less which gait he offers, all the easy gaits are comfortable and I can post the trot, so if that is all her offers, that's OK too. Plus, I know enough now thanks to Lee Ziegler's "Easy Gaited Horses" to be able to change/get gait without any harsh methods, just by using a slight change in balance. Anyway, I ramble. I just don't think what a horse does in hand or at liberty has much to do with what they do under saddle, and it doesn't worry me that Andi only trots right now. Susan in NV
Happy High Desert Trails Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ --------------------------------- Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.
