Gaited horse question?

Question

okay,my 5 year old Icelandic gelding wont gait correctly for a long time. he will for a while then he wont. he did have a broken leg so i dont know if that is it. and yeah, i had lessons with a gaited horse trainer so i do know how to ride them. if you could please give me some tips on how to get him to gait longer.

here is some videos of Icelandic

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=3bQU5pnOi7o&feature=related

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=XpEuuvP6li8

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=-7rWeWymJDw&feature=related

Answer 1

I would build up his endurance. Get him to do however long he normally does then get him to do one more stride before he breaks the gait. Reward him after that and try to build up his gaiting endurance. Once he can go a bit longer than normal, repeat the process and then you have a very good gaited horse! Note: do not try to make him gait twice as much as he normally does, because this will more than likely frustrate both you and him.

Answer 2

In know especially with the Icelandics they are moving there legs very far and very quickly.  Unlike Peruvian pasos or paso finos the Iclenadic has a huge ground covering gait.

He could be having gait problems becasue one. He is uncomftorable weather it be pressure points by the saddle or his leg is bothering him.

two,  though you take lessons on riding gaited horses your form or level of tollerence could change from day to day.  The basic step to get and gaited horse to do the proper gait is to tuck there head in and round out there back.  You can do this by half halting him.  Hold with one rein, give and take with the other.

He could also be not gaiting becasue you are riding hi diffrently.  You could one day go out to ride him and feel tired or grumpy and your negaitive energy will travel through the style of your riding.  This could cause him to go pacey.    

Another possibility is that he dosn't have enough endurance.  You can build up his endurance by making him tolt for 5 minutes sraight then walk for 7 minutes the ntolt again for 7 minutes then walk for 10 and so on.

ANd your last option is to look at his feet.  I would not suggest this as a first option becasue you could aggrivate his leg.  But i will also suggest that depending on the surface you ride him on he could have brusied hooves, absecces,  or uncomftorable build ups of pressure in his shoulder areas.  

If you are using a rigid tree saddlplease keep in mind that in order for a gaited horse to cleanly do its gaits it needs maximum flexablility of its shoulder and back.  Depending on the fit of the rigid tree saddle the tree can limit the flexability in the back and shoulders.  If you show him get a cutback or icelandic saddle and remeber it may look like a good fit while the horse is standing still but the moment he moves the motion becomes a whole nother thing to check for the fit of the saddle.

If you do trail get a treeles i use it on all of my horses and on horses i have trained.

  

Answer 3

My money is on issues with the healed broken leg.

I broke both my legs a year ago.  Although I've made way faster recovery than my surgeons anticipated, it's not business as usual, not even close.

I'd demand less of him and concentrate on getting muscle and bone condition back.  A visit from the vet wouldn't hurt, either.

Answer 4

If he does hold gait for a while, then breaks, I would think he's got fatigue issues.  I know with my TWH mare she will gait well in the first part of a ride, but if we stay out longer than usual, as she gets tireder, she gets more swingy since it's easier for her to do.  At that point, in my case, since we're just trail riding, that's when I just slow down and let her mosey back in to camp.  No sense in pushing her to the point of distress/discomfort. Perhaps some more conditioning for him??

Answer 5

Is it possible that the gaits are causing him discomfort in the healed leg? Gaits are extremely hard on the bones, tendons and muscles. If the leg is hurting when you try to gait him, that may be why he won't gait for long.  

Answer 6

Have your shoer watch him work.  He may need adjusting.

Answer 7

if u want to learn how to ride em go for horse riding lessons sounds like the horse is changing its mind i think it is the leg take it to the vet  to if theres nuthing wroung with its leg to make sure its fully healed u can also ask people that r a expert on horses and see if they can also help u :)