I’ve acquired an unstarted three-year-old gaited horse. What are the important elements in training a young gaited horse? Is lunging a gaited horse a helpful way to begin training? How do I introduce the bit, which bit and why?
Starting a Naturally Gaited Horse with Dressage
The next chapter of Naturally Gaited Horse began October 16, 2021 when an untrained, three-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse colt arrived. His name is Marvel and he was given to me by my dear, horse-loving friend, Mary.
While Marvel’s conformation is more of a rail class Tennessee Walking Horse, I still use dressage as his method of training. Dressage will develop our partnership and communication as I lead Marvel into relaxation of mind and body, rhythm, forward movement without rushing, balance, connection, symmetry, and collection over time. Dressage will develop his best possible quality smooth gaits on cue.
Since I live in snow country and without an indoor arena, I chose to wait until Spring before starting Marvel under saddle. It gave us a solid six months before saddle training began. During this time Marvel got acclimated to our herd, the routine of coming into the barn, and his stall. Then I got him progressively used to the cross ties, wearing a saddle, accepting and following a snaffle bit. We did plenty of lunging, free lunging, liberty, and working in hand with a snaffle bit.
My Five Main Points to Starting a Gaited Horse
- Relaxation of mind and body
- Breaking training down into short learning sessions
- Rewarding every good thing
- Develop a relationship of trust and respect
- Introduce a consistent means of communication: verbal cues, body cues, rewards, use of equipment
Relaxation of Mind and Body
With each horse I work with of any age, relaxation is the key. Relaxation of mind and body. A relaxed mind is a teachable mind. I help the horse focus on me and our training instead of being worried about distractions around us. A relaxed body is a trainable body and able to produce quality smooth gaits.
Most importantly, relaxation begins with me. I need to be relaxed in my mind and body in order to lead my horse into relaxation. This is helpful when working with a young untrained horse or whenever in the saddle.
Defining Relaxation and Why it is Important for the Gaited Horse
It is important to note that relaxation does not mean lazy, dull or shut down. Relaxation means the absence of tension and anxiety in both me and the horse. Horses learn best from a relaxed handler and in a relaxed state of mind. A horse’s best quality smooth gaits are produced in a posture of relaxation.
Noticing the Signs of Tension
Whenever the horse becomes tense, I redirect the horse’s focus, slow down or stop and regain relaxation. When a horse is tense, they often raise their head and neck, hollow their back, their whole body becomes tight, they hold their breath, they are tight lipped, their eyes grow worried, and their attention is fixed on what is causing the tension. In this state, the horse is not listening and not trainable. In a posture of tension, a gaited horse often paces, pace canters, or hard trots. These are the rough gaits we don’t want, right? That’s why relaxation of mind and body are key to training the naturally gaited horse.
There are many ways I help a horse relax, such as teaching them to draw their attention back to me, lowering their head and neck to a neutral position, breathing, chewing and swallowing, and relaxing their mouth and lower jaw. Beginning this education from the ground from the lunge line or in hand builds a great foundation of relaxation with lots of rewards for every good thing.
Keeping Training Sessions Short
With a young horse, their attention span is short and they are easily distracted. Knowing this, I break down training into small progressive steps with ongoing reminders to draw the horse’s attention back to me any time it drifts off.
I have been working with Marvel about 20 minutes, three days in a row with one day off. During our sessions, when Marvel responds to a cue, I will immediately praise with a voice aid like, “yes, good boy,” and stop and give him a treat. I reward him for every good thing. Then we repeat an exercise a couple times with a reward in between.
Developing an Ambidextrous Horse
If we are working an exercise in one direction, we switch directions and do the same exercise. This is super important. Most horses are like people in that they are born right-handed or left-handed. Horses can be trained to be ambidextrous over time. Ideally, work the less developed direction twice as much as the easy direction. This will help the gaited horse develop more even strides.
Rewarding Every Good Thing
Encouragement goes a long way with people, and it does the same with horses. A young, green horse has a lot to learn. Marvel is learning a new language, so it is my job to be clear and consistent day after day.
I used body cues by bringing my energy up and down, verbal cues, “Yes, good boy,” and rewards, treats, and breaks with moments of letting the horse rest in relaxation.
Later in training, I will introduce the snaffle bit to help the horse accept contact and follow a light contact. Then when we begin saddle training, I will add leg, seat and weight aids.
Progressive Steps of Learning while Lunging a Gaited Horse
Lunging has great purpose for an unstarted gaited horse and makes training easier leading up to the day riding begins. Lunging a gaited horse develops communication and partnership. I use lunging to help the gaited horse learn relaxation in motion, develop rhythm and tempo, forward movement without rushing, transitions within a gait and between gaits, changes of direction, working on a 20-meter circle with a slight bend.
Stories and videos of Marvel’s first year under saddle
- Lunging a Gaited Horse
- Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit
- Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle
Learn more: Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit
November 2021: Marvel’s fourth lunging session, wearing a saddle, snaffle bit, and rope halter.
Learn more: Lunging a Gaited Horse
Watch: Following contact with a snaffle bit and why
Watch: Jambette and Spanish Walk with the naturally gaited horse
May 2022: Marvel was ready for saddle training at four years old.
Learn more: Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle
Marvel, my Tennessee (Spanish) Walking Horse marching along after six months of saddle training.
