Hello y'all! I am new to gaited horses but have quite a bit of experience with non-gaited horses... I need some advice from someone with more knowledge than I have.
You see we bought our SSH mare back in Feb of this year and I have been posting about her in various other forums on these boards but since she was in foal when we bought her and has since been nursing her filly we haven't ridden her at all. There are photos of my mare and her filly in her introduction thread that I posted if you're interested.
What I'd like to know is without any knowledge of her previous training what would y'all suggest I do for our first ride? Are there any special cues that a gaited horse is typically trained with or are they usually trained similar to a non-gaited horse? I don't want to confuse her but since I have absolutely no idea how she was trained or what she rides like I need some advice LOL and some prayers that if I do confuse her she doesn't try to get me off her back!
We were told by her previous owner that she is trained to ride and drive but unfortunately the previous owner also has no clue on how she was trained or what specific cues, if any, were used. I plan on working her in the round pen to gain some respect and to get her back in riding shape after weaning her foal so I'll have a basis to go from and it won't be like I'm starting with a horse I don't know.
Also, any specific requirements as far as saddle fit and bit/bridle preference I should start with? I have a western style saddle but haven't had it on her to check the fit yet and we don't have any other kind of tack at this point either so we're starting from scratch.
TIA for any and all advice... and thanks for reading.
ttfn
MD.
You see we bought our SSH mare back in Feb of this year and I have been posting about her in various other forums on these boards but since she was in foal when we bought her and has since been nursing her filly we haven't ridden her at all. There are photos of my mare and her filly in her introduction thread that I posted if you're interested.
What I'd like to know is without any knowledge of her previous training what would y'all suggest I do for our first ride? Are there any special cues that a gaited horse is typically trained with or are they usually trained similar to a non-gaited horse? I don't want to confuse her but since I have absolutely no idea how she was trained or what she rides like I need some advice LOL and some prayers that if I do confuse her she doesn't try to get me off her back!
We were told by her previous owner that she is trained to ride and drive but unfortunately the previous owner also has no clue on how she was trained or what specific cues, if any, were used. I plan on working her in the round pen to gain some respect and to get her back in riding shape after weaning her foal so I'll have a basis to go from and it won't be like I'm starting with a horse I don't know.
Also, any specific requirements as far as saddle fit and bit/bridle preference I should start with? I have a western style saddle but haven't had it on her to check the fit yet and we don't have any other kind of tack at this point either so we're starting from scratch.
TIA for any and all advice... and thanks for reading.
ttfn
MD.