tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post2206161245801185724..comments2024-03-01T06:49:59.106-05:00Comments on Behind the Bit: Gaits part 1: What is meant by "impure gaits?"Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-34499824612227463932010-02-24T06:07:46.590-05:002010-02-24T06:07:46.590-05:00I don't have experience with gaited horses or ...I don't have experience with gaited horses or weighted shoes, but as a equine massage therapist, I have a some experience with horses that are stuck in the shoulders. All of this horse's gaits look restricted behind the shoulder to me, and the flick is in response. Instead of being able to move out from the back of the shoulder, a horse's response to beind held up is to whip the Lumihttp://bklynequestrian.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-22605523373641562232010-02-23T17:37:51.678-05:002010-02-23T17:37:51.678-05:00My first question is what breed is this horse? Lik...My first question is what breed is this horse? Like someone else mentioned, it almost looks like he's doing a Spanish walk or like he is of Spanish decent. I also think the bell boots are exaggerating the fault. The Youtube snippet says he was trained by an amateur and that may be part of the problem.Jenna Hoskinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02411341498576759800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-15287221020760457642010-02-20T13:01:13.169-05:002010-02-20T13:01:13.169-05:00Could there be a possibility, rather than the firs...Could there be a possibility, rather than the first conclusion of abuse, that maybe the horse is still in a learning stage, and that when he gets tense or uncertain he is just trying to do too many things at once, because he is not being allowed any freedom or being stopped or shown what is correct?<br /><br />I do agree with everyone that the gaits are really off and not right at all.Lisa Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328236668033443076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-70704772213698342652010-02-20T12:31:36.385-05:002010-02-20T12:31:36.385-05:00Another interesting post topic!
Very sad for the ...Another interesting post topic!<br /><br />Very sad for the horse, who is trying his heart out. He probably knows no alternative training style. I can only imagine what kind of training he has endured.<br /><br />This kind of flashy movement blurs the true meaning of dressage. It contributes to people purchasing large, robust horses for thousands (millions) of dollars, horses who can (will?) Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-53084677619132853542010-02-19T16:14:34.114-05:002010-02-19T16:14:34.114-05:00Re: the toe flip... Before we were married, hubby ...Re: the toe flip... Before we were married, hubby (then, boyfriend) was a working student at Tempel Farms in IL. The head trainer for that farm (who was gone before hubby got there) was George Williams. That farm is very big into classical dressage and does very well competitively as well. The toe flip is a HUGE no-no there. Like I said previosuly, I'm just a hunter princess, but hubby isHollynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05826846251458849175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-66377963587511293162010-02-18T06:23:12.599-05:002010-02-18T06:23:12.599-05:00I love the Zenyatta clip!
As to toe-flipping, I&#...I love the Zenyatta clip!<br /><br />As to toe-flipping, I'm no expert but have seen young horses (in a field, at breed shows) toe flip and I want to say that Trakheners have a greater tendency in that direction but I can't say where I got this impression.<br /><br />It make sense that a horse that lacks strength may throw his legs around when pushed too hard, and I suppose that can Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-39398814831381032462010-02-17T22:34:50.677-05:002010-02-17T22:34:50.677-05:00The only thing I can add to what everyone has said...The only thing I can add to what everyone has said, is that it almost looks like the horse was taught to Spanish Walk, and is reverting back to that (a pure dressage horse at my eventing barn will do that every once in a blue moon, and his previous owner taught him to Spanish walk).<br /><br />I have a question: I was always told that toe flipping (when the toe is angled upward, in a broken line Lexiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12332936223545104003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-16636038923811518822010-02-17T17:50:52.505-05:002010-02-17T17:50:52.505-05:00I agree with all the previous comments, I can'...I agree with all the previous comments, I can't help but think something spooky is going on with this horse's training. He does look a bit stressed when he lands with each beat, like he's either a bit sore or tense.<br /><br />On a different note, I've scored at different Dressage breeding shows and have seen lots of foals with the exaggerated elevation. Not as bad as this but Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-43352930788014864062010-02-17T14:31:06.711-05:002010-02-17T14:31:06.711-05:00Speaking as not a dressage rider, but a 'hunte...Speaking as not a dressage rider, but a 'hunter-princess,' my first reaction was, "OMG! Let go of his face, put him in a snaffle and see what he does then." That quarter or half-pirouette was barf-y. <br /><br />I agree with the others, the canter work as a whole was awful. You can not ask a horse for a change with no engagement of the back end.<br /><br />I'd like to see Hollynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05826846251458849175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-88759776877111812222010-02-17T14:06:47.344-05:002010-02-17T14:06:47.344-05:00I have to agree with everyone, it looks like they ...I have to agree with everyone, it looks like they have used a training shackle and/or weights and pressure shoeing to get this movement. The biggest giveaway is how stiff the horse's back is. This horse is in pain, is being forced into a retro-flexed frame by the riders hands, but in spite of all that is still trying so very hard to do what the rider wants.<br />What is really sad is this Shadow Riderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-6273344176248934922010-02-17T14:03:57.547-05:002010-02-17T14:03:57.547-05:00The rider appears to be pretty accomplished, at le...The rider appears to be pretty accomplished, at least in terms of her seat and overall appearance. I'm not sure why you would "push" a horse that is not moving in a unified way. <br /><br />When Harvey is really tense he'll sometimes feel disunited, and it is a hard feeling to ignore.Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-9337063794736079702010-02-17T13:59:40.440-05:002010-02-17T13:59:40.440-05:00I really think that this is the "amatuer'...I really think that this is the "amatuer's" fault, not the trainer riding in the clip. I looked up other clips they have of sale horses and the horse being discussed is really one of a kind. <br /><br />Here is an example of another horse ridden by the same trainer. The hind is much more connected, the gaits truer, and a real lengthening.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?vSuziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02885497585789392221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-57628900571723676172010-02-17T10:45:38.649-05:002010-02-17T10:45:38.649-05:00That kind of reminds me of Zenyatta before a race
...That kind of reminds me of Zenyatta before a race<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXWDdFYmhkIHelenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04210327520793064458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-18933123858217582602010-02-17T09:21:47.313-05:002010-02-17T09:21:47.313-05:00I just have to say that I really enjoy your blog. ...I just have to say that I really enjoy your blog. I have learned so much or become aware of so many things from reading it! Thank you!!<br /><br />As a side note - before reading your post, I would have thought this was a perfect example of dressage (knowing next to nothing about it). After reading, I was totally able to see not only the strange walk, but the difference between the front end of JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876732061083507317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-78294816712141894692010-02-17T08:55:32.758-05:002010-02-17T08:55:32.758-05:00All marching and drums in the front, and nothing i...All marching and drums in the front, and nothing in the back.I can't help but think this is what happens when dressage becomes all about movement, (which is why I'm not so fond of Quarterback.) It says the horse was sold. I wonder what the new owners got?Kitty Bohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02030621211779302151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-72641353734690772962010-02-17T08:53:17.949-05:002010-02-17T08:53:17.949-05:00That canter work was really awful. I'm not sur...That canter work was really awful. I'm not surprised they showed so little of it. I don't know what they did, but they did something; I don't think the horse was born moving like that.A Bay Horsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519878838113259362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-56753796922979703302010-02-17T08:23:41.787-05:002010-02-17T08:23:41.787-05:00The first thing I saw was the crazy goose-stepping...The first thing I saw was the crazy goose-stepping walk. Then, I immediately noticed that the rider isn't allowing the horse's head to move one iota away from perfectly vertical. There's no give and take to accommodate his natural movement--just iron hands holding his face in at the correct place. He's concentrating and trying, but he's registering his discomfort by swishing HLShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13695818095406866154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-31853150836225576902010-02-17T07:28:31.169-05:002010-02-17T07:28:31.169-05:00i don't get it. If dressage people want this k...i don't get it. If dressage people want this kind of action, why don't they just ride saddleseat?Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609268980526224486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-70862248121849153642010-02-17T06:22:20.773-05:002010-02-17T06:22:20.773-05:00All that being said (and I think commenters have n...All that being said (and I think commenters have nailed it), I'm touched by how focused the horse is; he's really trying hard.Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-90397276819611903812010-02-17T05:38:24.068-05:002010-02-17T05:38:24.068-05:00Wow, his gait is seriously out of wack; and he loo...Wow, his gait is <i>seriously</i> out of wack; and he looks pretty darn miserable too (poor guy). This might sound really strange, but he almost looks like he has been "sored". Can't say I've ever seen it happen outside of the Walking Horse breed, but that "flash" that you were referring to is alarmingly familiar. We have a former "Big Lick" horse here that Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608579972739041880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-59979409037694358412010-02-17T00:14:14.996-05:002010-02-17T00:14:14.996-05:00This horse is a "leg-mover" but not a &q...This horse is a "leg-mover" but not a "back-mover." It's front end appears disconnected from it's back end because literally, it is! If you watch only the front, and then only the back, they appear to be from two different horses. It is most obvious in the canter, where its back end gets left behind. You can see the frustration the horse displays when it is unfairly Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-49012712254277732012010-02-16T23:32:45.735-05:002010-02-16T23:32:45.735-05:00I agree - there is no impulsion from the back end....I agree - there is no impulsion from the back end. He never truly steps under and through to the front for that level of action. <br /><br />I'd almost say he looks sored in the front like saddlebreds or twh (or some arabs). Could be shoes. <br /><br />Or his back is so long compared to his legs.....<br /><br />The walk isn't a true four beat walk. He's racking or pacing or something Enginerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16429671685652482485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-58912827458653553302010-02-16T22:41:25.604-05:002010-02-16T22:41:25.604-05:00I knew a hunter horse who would do the same thing ...I knew a hunter horse who would do the same thing occasionally in the walk. He would be walking totally normal and then suddenly just fling his front legs out much like the horse in the video. It was really weird to watch...LiveToFlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06588286496271994404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-25110301338748383702010-02-16T22:36:48.522-05:002010-02-16T22:36:48.522-05:00This horse was trained in Europe and someone used ...This horse was trained in Europe and someone used the same sort of elastic bands around the front legs that US riders use on Saddlebreds to get high action in front. The elastic bands produce, in some horses, the very distinctive "goose step" that this horse has.Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-72265202050349145152010-02-16T22:31:09.092-05:002010-02-16T22:31:09.092-05:00It looks an awful lot like weighted shoes to me. ...It looks an awful lot like weighted shoes to me. I don't have any evidence that either horse carried weighted shoes, but that's the same way heavy and lite shod TWH's walk. <br /><br />Here's a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qefFDzXcYBk" rel="nofollow">"lite shod" Walker</a> who had been shown in heavier shoes previously. Here's <a href="http://Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.com