now you are bragging Nancy :) I think with a horse like that, you can ride them different ways and bring out the gaits you want and after a while the horse will pick out his default gait, or a gait that suits him and is easy for him from the way you ride. My fox for instance, if nervous and tense will saddle rack, but relaxed and laid back, runningwalk. Both Teev and Jas can rack but when they do it its very very stiff and forced and hard on them, very high headed and ventroflexed and head just seems straining high and forward. I just sense it would be terrible to try and MAKE them do it, even now and then. They both only do it when other horses we are riding with are practically galloping and they want to keep up.
Teev just did the funniest thing... its about to storm, I turned them out, they all were just so full of beans! Jaspar is feeling so GOOD now he is gaining weight and getting nutrition, he just galloped off and went into display mode and like he was the pied piper all the horses fell in behind him just galloping and bucking and farting. Teev saw me and left the group and came galloping toward me, I mean i dont believe i have ever seen him so fast, he was just thundering galloping. I watched him coming and thought, wonder what he is going to do, he came closer and closer. It was only about five feet behind me to the fence and he didnt even look like he was gonna slow down for me, much less the fence and he was running right at me. I never felt afraid and in fact was sorta smiling and he galloped up and skidded in a half circle and bucked and bucked and took off for the others. I think he was showing off for me :) but watching him made me realize i dont think i ever want to ride him at that speed. Janice -- yipie tie yie yo
