>>>> My Stormur has always been a very pacey horse, but I don't consider him tobe stiff. He certainly can be, when he hard paces, but he's very willing to soften when I ask, and can still be pretty pacey. He has a very comfortable stepping pace and is offering what I think is saddle rack, more and more. ... I've had him since he was 3 (now 15) and I've never seen him trot in the field, though I do believe he's done some trotting under saddle on some trail rides. I haven't had much luck getting him to trot in the ring, though I haven't really worked at it a lot. He does have a nice 3 beat canter, so I think trot is in there somewhere.
I suspect there are a good many gaited horses of all breeds who fall into that description - and I see nothing at all wrong with that for pleasure/trail horses. I'd say just enjoy them, but watch out for their future soundness! >>> What do you all do with your hard wired pacey guys? I think I really only have one horse that I would consider very pacey - and that would be Mac, the 24 year-old-TWH. He serves as my example of what not to do, though, rather than what to do. Amazingly, despite his Big Lick start, and his tendency to pace, he's still sound in the pasture, but because of his swayback, he's not ridden much. I'd love to have a chance to let him live his life over, knowing what I know now... I initially thought Sina was going to be pacey...but that turned out to mostly be MY stiffness from the broken back I was recovering from, plus a series of saddle fit issues. That's one reason I warn others about stiffness and paceyness. I was all ready to blame her, but very little of it was actually her "fault." I was a lot of her problem. As for the others that have some pace, maybe geared slightly to the lateral side - I basically do what I do with the non-gaited horses. I do flexing and bending exercises, various kinds of groundwork, bodywork as needed - basically a blend of several NH trainers I've liked over the years. (I started working with a not-so-well known local NH trainer, so his work probably influenced me the most.) I also try to make sure I don't push them into any tension under saddle...and speaking of saddles, I have made a virtual career out of finding good saddle options! I guess you'd say I do the same things as for any horse, just maybe altering the quantities of what I do. For instance, I'd probably do more work over poles with the pacier ones - and if they can't trot so easily, but have a good canter, that's a good option I think...and lots of walking is also good I think. I sent Nancy an answer about Loftur earlier, but I don't see that yahoo has sent it through. Here's some specifics I did for him, that would probably be good for any horse, but especially the pacey ones I think. http://www.windgait.com/LofturGroundwork.htm Karen Thomas, NC [EMAIL PROTECTED]
