Is Your Horse Doing his Part by Maintaining Gait?

A couple of years ago I picked up a very nice Appendix mare from Tom Atwood of Atwood Ranches. At this time, I’m the only one who has ridden her.  She is now five.  We were checking calves on the backside of my small ranch alternating between a nice trot and her smooth lope when I noticed that I was actually urging her along a bit to maintain the gait and the speed within the gait.  I eased back to a walk and thought about what I had allowed over time to develop.  She’s a nice mare and gives me no troubles at all; so, while I’m enjoying her, I had “cut her some slack” and wasn’t insistent on her holding up her end of our deal.

The remainder of our ride was focused on her maintaining gait while I remained vigilant to remind her if she eased off any.  To accomplish this, I needed to pay close attention to my body language.  If I wish her to slow, rather than pick up on the rein, I prefer to relax my body or, as Pat Parelli says “quit riding”.  To speed up I’ll raise my internal energy rather than bump her with my legs or spur.  Herein lies the conundrum.   Just where between those two lies the balance point.  That place where I am right with her, not dragging nor pushing.  This mare and I worked all of that out when she was three.  Over time I became a bit complacent and caused her to believe that I didn’t care as much as I had earlier, which certainly was not true.

A process that I learned many years ago from Pat Parelli has served me well. Essentially it involves who made the transition in gait or direction.  When I ask for a transition, I’ll set it up with my reins or my body then “suggest, ask, tell, or promise”. This is not new stuff.  It’s been around for over 40 years.  When my horse makes a change on his own.  I will not set it up again and suggest again.  I will pick up a tool such as my romal if I’m in a bridle, my McCarty (mecate) in the hackamore or snaffle and lightly apply pressure directing her in the direction/speed I had previously asked.  Of course, with a green horse we’ll always go back to basics, set it up; then ask.  Here I’m talking about a horse far enough along to know and understand the difference.  How will you know when your horse is ready to modify your approach to the unwanted transition? Actually, trial and error doing your best to err on the horse’s side.  Martin Black told me last month that after I get it wrong long enough, I’ll find the fight answer.  Don’t be afraid to make a mistake.  When you and your horse are learning, you’re not too likely to be right all the time.

The remainder of our ride I paid attention to her backing off the gait.  When that occurred, I’d lightly spank with my hackamore McCarty to a speed slightly more than I wanted; then ease her back to the one I actually wanted. This mare has no trouble at all with this approach.  She actually seems to say “thanks for clearing that up”.  By the end of our ride, I checked all of my cattle, and she was right there with me with no urging on my part.  A purely recreational rider may find little need for this.  A horseman needing his horse to be ready for transitions, willing to maintain what was asked of her on her own very much appreciates this harmony.  Imagine needing to regularly pump the gas pedal to keep your truck moving or pumping the brakes to get it to even slow.  Most likely you wouldn’t settle for that.

At this stage of my life, I enjoy even more my horses following my suggestions, not handing me alternatives, going along with me as partners.  It’s a joy and I thank all of the pioneers of this movement some call Natural Horsemanship.  It sure enough helps my time with my horses to be joyful and fulfilling.

Take care, Dave