How to Gait a Horse

How to Gait a Horse. Horses have four natural gaits: the walk, the trot, the canter and the gallop. But some horses are bred to perform other gaits, which are collectively called the "ambling" gaits. While they often come naturally to a horse that's bred for it, a horse still needs training to perform them on command. Horses that can perform these gaits are referred to as "gaited," and the training is often referred to as "gaiting." The best way to gait a horse is by entering the gait from a collected walk.

Step 1

Get your horse into shape. Before you can work on gaiting, your horse has to be limber, flexible and in shape. Lunge your horse every day to condition it. When riding, work on bending exercises such as small circles and weaving obstacle courses to make your horse more agile and flexible.

Step 2

Start by asking your horse to walk. Your eventual goal is to "walk" the horse into the gait. Walk your horse as quickly and actively as you can without letting it move up into a trot. Use your legs and pelvis to maintain the forward movement. Rock your pelvis with the horse's movements, encouraging it to walk more actively.

Step 3

Practice maintaining an active walk. You may wish to use an impulsion aid such as light spurs or a crop. Don't hit your horse; just tap it lightly on the shoulder or flanks to encourage a more active walk. Many horses like to speed up for just a few steps, then return to a slower pace. You should anticipate this and urge the horse on before it has a chance to slow down.

Step 4

Get the horse collected. This means that its center of gravity should be shifted backwards. One way to collect your horse is to halt, with you shifting your weight backward in the saddle and applying leg aids at the same time. Put some pressure on the reins, keeping your hands low. This should help shift the horse's weight onto its rear legs.

Step 5

Continue asking for more collection and speed. Use the half-halt to request greater impulsion and collection. You can execute a half-halt by asking the horse to halt, then propelling it forward the minute it begins to respond to your cues. Soon, your horse should move naturally into the gait it was bred for.

Step 6

Make sure your horse is performing the right gait. If you have access to an arena with a mirror, use it. If not, look at your horse's head and neck. It should continue moving in the steady up-and-down of the walk, not the back-and-forth movement that means he's pacing.

Warnings

• Don't try to train a horse to gait if it wasn't bred for it; gaiting won't come naturally and you may end up straining your horse.

References

• Gaited Horses: Working With Gaited Horses
• My Horse: Gait Training 101