horsey suggestion for my man...

That was exactly what I was wondering kstinson! If it would help his balance, thank you

Like I say, I do swim "upstream" on at least parts of the project.

If you can pull off instructing your spouse then God Bless You. You will be in a fairly small minority. Having had to personally "pick up the pieces" a couple of times when this didn't work I'm not a fan. But, to each their own.

Seems that learning on a trotting horse has more fans than I thought it would. Another benefit, mentioned by KStinson, is the ability to ride a trotter if you're someplace where gaited horses are not available (like riding vacations in places like Ireland or Spain).

The argument about "speed discontinuity" is bogus, IMO. The rider sets the speed for the horse, not the other way 'round. If a gaited horse rider can't keep their speed down then they need some instruction on properly rating a horse.

I'm still of the opinion that buying a horse for a novice is a bad idea until they've got some lessons under their belt. This gives them a chance to decide if this activity is for them AND it gives them some time to decide what sort of disciplines they might be interested in. It could even come to pass that they want to do something where a gaited horse would not be the best choice. Give the new rider some time to learn what they are about before buying something.

Horses are cheap right now and will be so for a very long time. That means it's easy to buy but tough to sell. Another reason that buying should be put off until the new rider learns what interests them.

Good luck to both of you.

G.

I've always had gaited horses and when my husband (then boyfriend) felt he was ready to ride hopped on my gentle giant gaited gelding that I would let kids ride with no problems what so ever but when I (an adult) sat in the saddle would mean we would be ready to hit the trails! And with that said, yep you got it, when he sat down in the saddle and leaned back the show was on and this horse was a speed racking baby!
As my honey's was traveling at speeds around 15+ miles at a speed rack, I had to jump in front of my horse to stop him. My horse peeled his hands off the horse and refused to ever ride again. Which held true form MANY YEARS until.........

I had purchased a cute little QH mare for the KIDS (LOL) this little girl would just walk. She needed work but definitely had potential to become a beginners horse in no time.
I was so impressed with this little girls attitude that I insisted that my husband at least sit on her. Well he did get in the saddle and that was the start of a whole new love and couldn't get him out of the saddle LOL!

Years later when our daughter got too big to ride in the buddy seat so we was in the market for a third horse. Looking mostly for non gaited horses and then we came across a "gaited" horse that was free that looks quite a bit like my gelding that my husband fell in love with him at first site.
There is a lot of work that needs to be done with this new guy but they are getting it done and as a TEAM.

So with all this said, I think finding a horse that your husband is comfortable with regardless of gaited or not is the key and let him advance when its his time.

Oh have to add, yes my gaited horse rode quite well with a QH, a SLOW AS MOLASSESS QH LOL! It can be done ;)

Alrighty, so for the learning purposes of my man, we have found a suitable horse to use for lessons. My friend is letting us borrow her qh gelding Woody because she doesn't have time to ride him. So yesterday we started with the basics and with bonding and I had my man groom Woody and then learn a few things about body language and how his position and stance will affect how Woody moves. Success

(...and I am in LOVE with Woody, if I could I would put my name on his ownership in a heartbeat! Perfect temperament, some pretty good confo, and he has a fun personality)

Buh! I am so jealous of you all! In the 3 years that I have been leasing (and as of 3 months ago, owning) horses out here in AZ, my husband has come to the barn TWICE. One of those times was to see the horse I bought and hubby was content to pet him once or twice before going home.

He has promised me that one day he will get up on a horse and maybe even learn to ride, but not yet. What I wouldn't give to be trail buddies!

Yeah I am pretty blessed :) He loves learning about horses and wants to be able to go on trail rides with me.