>>> That makes sense, but I didn't think I did very much different while Gat was changing her gaits, so maybe my changes were more reactions that I didn't notice. I need to practice more to get a feel for what's happening.
It may simply be that she doesn't have a clue what's expected of her. It sounds like she understands what Alex expects of her, aiming towards w/t/c. But if I were to guess, I'd say there's a good chance that either 1) no one ever tried to isolate and set her easy gaits, or 2) she was TOLD she HAD to gait with odd rider positions, heavy rein contact, maybe even odd shoeing/trimming. I'm guessing of course, but that's fairly typical. She may simply have never felt the need to settle into one gait and hold it without someone holding her up with the reins so to speak. >>>> Gat is boarded at a hunter/jumper barn and the coaches there don't work with gaited horses and never seem to know anything when I discuss gaits--they just encourage us to keep Gat in w/t/c, and that's fine for Alex's lessons, but I want to learn more about gaits. I hate the attitude that a horse HAS to do any specific set of gaits, be that forcing a virtually three-gaited horse to "tolt" or in insisting that a strongly laterally/pacey-gaited horse only w/t/c. BUT, for what it's worth, it might be good for you to encourage her to trot at least part of the time, especially if Alex is going to continue riding and showing her. She seems to have figured out what is expected in Alex's lessons, so just be careful she doesn't now get the idea that w/t/c is suddenly "wrong." Man, this can be so much fun...but it can also be very tough, walking a fine line. You're doing well though. Hang in there! Karen Thomas, NC
