Gaited Horse People

[lantairvlea]

I don't mean to offend, but I've noticed some things about "Gaited Horse People." Of course, the same thing could probably be said of most anyone who is glued to a single breed or type. My mom also falls under the category of being a "Gaited Person

Comments

[euph0ra]

"A good horse is a good horse no matter the breed, color, type of gait, or gender."

AMEN! Don't let it get to you. I breed Morgans but I love several different breeds including Fjords ;) I guess what I am trying to say is don't take it personally.

[lantairvlea]

Aw thankye. I try, though the general closed attitude is still a bit annoying.

And I rather like Morgans, though haven't had much opportunity to be around them, unfortunately. Granted, I'm my own little island of weirdness out here where almost every other horse is a QH or Paint, heh.

[isabelgu]

Hey I have a gaited horse! har har. I stumbled into mine. It is actually really hard to lump them together to because I have an American Saddlebred and his gates are sooo different then my friends Missouri Fox trotter. His is more for show then for comfort. Now that being said I also have a QH. And the Next horse I want is a Fresian. I love all the different kinds of horses, granted my Saddlebred holds a special place in my heart, not because he is gaited though, but because he is my first horse :-)

[lantairvlea]

I haven't ridden many gaited horses outside of the Fox Trotters. A walking pony (so adorable), one TWH who didn't gait much, a couple of Rockies, and a Rocky/TWH mare that had the smoothest gait I've ever ridden and that's all I've really been exposed to, though I'd love to try out a 5 gaited Saddlebred just to know what it feels like. And try one of those Paso breeds ... or an Icelandic. And learn how to ride saddleseat. One of these days ...

A good horse is a good horse, it just might happen to be a specific breed or type *grin.*

[candysgirl]

I'm a Polish Arab girl. I like small-ish, quick, agile horses. Arabs tend to fit the bill. That doesn't mean I discount any other breeds. There are certainly some that I'd never own, including pretty much any draft and most gaited breeds. I just don't have use for them. I appreciate all of them for what they are and enjoy the occasional ride on someone else's, but they're not for me. I'm an extremely ADD rider and need a horse that can do anything from an endurance ride, to jumping, to dressage, to running a barrel pattern.

What I don't get is the mentality that ONLY one breed is worth anything at all. My fiance does flags and barrels with his QHs and I'm constantly asked at the shows, "Why on EARTH did you get *THAT* horse". I'd heard enough of it one day and snapped at one guy, "My horse can complete an endurance ride, jump a course, do a dressage test, or hold his own in every one of the classes at this show, speed or pleasure - take your pick. Can't imagine why I have him... What can your horse do?"

[lantairvlea]

I definitely get the "I just don't have a use for them," it's the same phrase I've used explaining to my mom why I'm not head-over-heals about her gaited horses.

Of course my grandfather teases me about my "European horses" and there's good-natured ribbing back and forth.

I love my Polish Arab boy. Super-responsive, super-smart (too smart...), and a lot more sensible than most people give credit to the breed. It seems some QH people are particularly hostile to Arabs, but I suspect it is more of a personality clash as, from what I've seen, you have a lot of QH people who just want to get on and ride (rope, run barrels, whatever) rather than communicating and socializing with the horse (and Arabs are definitely social creatures!).

I definitely recognize that some breeds' base personalities fit better with certain people than they do others. That's part of the reason they all developed in the first place.

Yeah, the mentality that one breed is the end-all of the universe and nothing else is worthwhile just strikes me as wrong.

[candysgirl]

Oh the 'QH people' drive me nuts. Just because you can stay on a QH around a couple of cans does NOT mean you can actually *RIDE*. I'm not knocking barrel racing, I think its fun, but good god the QH people who think 'riding' = being able to stay on while your horse runs fast as you yank it around barrels with huge, shanked bits drive me up a wall. My "crazy" Arab practices at home in a rope halter...though I'm told we're not allowed to show in that. My dressage trained Arab learned how to turn a barrel in about 5 minutes, why? Because he already knew how to use his hind end. No, we can't beat a QH off the line in a sprint, but he can turn better than most we'll be up against

[lantairvlea]

I heartily agree

[bighooves]

I can't say much, since I'm looking for a mule or mammoth donkey as my next riding animal. But my reasons there are less to do with a breed than the differences between species. Plus the fact that I have always enjoyed longears helps :)

[lantairvlea]

Baby donkeys and mules with their giant ears are almost too adorable for words.

I hear they tend to have a better sense of self-preservation than horses do (which is part of the reason they get the bad rap about being stubborn). Do you prefer them for their general demeanor, appearance, or the overall package?

[bighooves]

They're a very charming and unique animal, and I find their personalities to be really enjoyable- the number-one thing I look for in any mount is a good personality :)

And oh lord, yes. The babies are death-ray level cute when they're brand-new ;)

[lantairvlea]

I love personality *grin.* Another riding experience I'll have to have someday (I've met a few mules, but never ridden one and have yet to meet a mammoth donkey in person).

[ponywoman1105]

At a charity trail ride some woman came up behind me and called my great mare Skeeter, a broom-tailed Appaloosa. Huh, she couldn't control her horse and mine was very well behaved. She lived to be 30 and I miss her still.

[lantairvlea]

Appaloosas aren't known for having thick and long manes and tails, but as I noted to a lady who had a Haflinger she was trying to sell "You don't ride the mane." (Good-looking horse, needed A LOT of work to say the least and they were trying to sell it as a kid's horse...)

It's especially baffling when someone puts down a breed (particularly a well-behaved member of it) and at the same time is riding a less-than-stellar example of their own choice.

30 is a good old age. My Grandpa's Arab gelding that I learned to ride on was 29 when he passed two years ago.