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Thinking about getting a TWH

5K views 25 replies 18 participants last post by  Ladytrails 
#1 ·
Hi,

I'm new here, and I have a question for all of you gaited horse fans. I've heard that TWH are great for people who have back problems, as it's not as jarring. But I'm worried that if I get a TWH, my daughter who is 11 years old and has a 16 year old horse (breed unknown), he's about 14 hands, stocky, will not be able to keep up with a TWH. I want to be able to go on trail rides with her out at our place and with her 4H group.

I have back problems and wonder if a gaited horse would be better for me, or if it can be just as good on a non-gaited horse while posting. I just don't know.

But, can anyone tell me, when going on trail rides, (most of the kids in 4H have QH, or paints), will a TWH be too fast?

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I'm not sure which way to go.
Thanks
 
#2 ·
I'm not really a gaited horse person, but I have ridden a few TWHs. I've heard that Paso Finos are extremely smooth rides, so maybe you could look around and test ride one. The speed of the horse really just depends on that particular horse. I've ridden slow Tennessee Walkers and I've ridden fast ones. I've also known quite a few Quarter Horses to be very smooth rides. Depends on the horse. Good luck with your search!
 
#3 ·
I am not a big fan of the gaited horses but, my cousin used to have a small (14.1h) TWH and at the time I had a 14.2 QH. We went on trail all the time (it was the only place for us to ride as we had no arenas or anything back then) and I had no trouble keeping up with her TWH at all.
 
#5 ·
With gaited horses much depends on the confirmation and stride of the horse. There are some Rocky's with gigantic overstrides just as there are some TWH that will slow right down on trail rides and not move ahead of everyone else.
The length of stride also has a lot to do with your back. We sold our Rocky mare that had TWH breeding in her since she had such a large overstride when walking that she actually bothered my back. Now my gelding RMH doesn't have that and is very comfortable on trail and will ride out with regular stock horses no problem. We also have a spotted saddle who is not comfortable for me, but my husband likes. He also goes along on trail with stock horses and doesn't leave them standing in the dust. I also have a QH mare that has a two speed jog that keeps you in the saddle and is the most comfortable ride. (We have both stock and gaited).

The best I can tell you is look at a few you might like and test drive them. If you have a trailer you may even want to see if you can bring your daughters horse alone to see how it will keep up with the prospective horse. It may take a while to find just the horse you are looking for, but they are out there.

There are so many different breeds, probably the TWH and the Rocky are known most for their wonderful temperament. One thing to remember is that the taller either of these breeds get (like up into the 16hh range) the less comfortable the ride will be in gait. I would try to stay with a 15hh horse.
Good luck and happy horse hunting!
 
#6 ·
With gaited horses much depends on the confirmation and stride of the horse. There are some Rocky's with gigantic overstrides just as there are some TWH that will slow right down on trail rides and not move ahead of everyone else.
The length of stride also has a lot to do with your back. We sold our Rocky mare that had TWH breeding in her since she had such a large overstride when walking that she actually bothered my back. Now my gelding RMH doesn't have that and is very comfortable on trail and will ride out with regular stock horses no problem. We also have a spotted saddle who is not comfortable for me, but my husband likes. He also goes along on trail with stock horses and doesn't leave them standing in the dust. I also have a QH mare that has a two speed job that keeps you in the saddle and is the most comfortable ride. (We have both stock and gaited).

The best I can tell you is look at a few you might like and test drive them. If you have a trailer you may even want to see if you can bring your daughters horse alone to see how it will keep up with the prospective horse. It may take a while to find just the horse you are looking for, but they are out there.

There are so many different breeds, probably the TWH and the Rocky are known most for their wonderful temperament. One thing to remember is that the taller either of these breeds get (like up into the 16hh range) the less comfortable the ride will be in gait. I would try to stay with a 15hh horse.
Good luck and happy horse hunting!
 
#7 ·
I ride 3 regularly and they have no trouble keeping up with non-gaited breeds. The 3 I ride range from around 14 to 16 hands, and the biggest mare's walk is AWFUL! Her gait is lovely, but the walk is horrid. The two smaller one's have very pleasant walks, though. I haven't met a TWH I don't like. Good luck!
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#8 ·
Any of the gaited breeds should be better for your back since you don't have to post the trot. If you know someone familiar with gaited horses let them check any prospects out for you. At a flat walk your daughters QH should be able to keep up with no problems.
 
#9 ·
I've owned gaited horses for more years than I care to count. All breeds of gaited. Currently we have two rocky mountain mares, a foxtrotter mare and a TWH mare. I suffer from back, hip and pelvis pain due to an accident several years ago and I find that the movement of my TWH is less jarring on my joints. Her walk is fantastic and the faster she gets the smoother she becomes. My advice would be to look for a gaited horse that has a NATURAL four beat gait...evenly timed. Where are you located? I may know of some reputable owners near you that I can refer you to.
 
#10 ·
When we go out on trail we just match up gaits with all the trotters. When they walk, we do a 'dog walk'. When they trot, we running walk. When they canter...well Scooter is still getting his canter...LOL so we usually running walk or flat out gallop.

I love gaited horses. I think they have fabulous personalities and the gaits are amazing. I doubt your daughter will have a hard time keeping up. Those young ones don't mind trotting as much as us Moms do!
 
#11 ·
In my neck of the woods, the gaited people push their horses to walk FAST and they except you, on the non-gaited horse, to catch up and keep up. It really has been a pain-in-the-butt for me, but hey, you want to ride with your friends, right?

So if you get one that hasn't been pushed to walk fast, you might be alright. If you get one where the trainers/riders have been pushing the walk (and they can have a very fast natural walk) then you might be riding the brakes so your daughter can keep up. Unless she like to trot, which I did when I was a kid. :)

I actually bought a Fox Trotter so I would have a horse for gaited rides, and I have a Mustang for QH rides. My Mustang would just rather not walk fast.

As far as the breed goes, I'm sure a Walker would be a blast! I've ridden one and several Fox Trotters and they are oodles of fun as well. It's like you have all these extra gears that you have to learn how to use, and it's fast and fun. :D I LOVE the gaited horses, it's just sometimes the gaited riders irritate me!
 
#12 ·
I understand what you mean about the riders pushing the gaited horses for speed. I've had to reteach several of our horses to slow down and just WALK! LOL! Some riders aren't in the saddle yet and their horse is flying down trail. That's one of my pet peeves.....I expect my gaited horses to stand calmly, then walk off calmly when I cue them. I know some people who hit a gait from the first step and don't stop until they get back in camp. That's just not how we ride. We like to walk, gait a bit when we feel like it, stop along the trails, and walk back into camp. Gaited horses get a bad rep for being too fast. But, it's totally up to the rider how the horse moves. My big striding TWH will slow right down and walk behind a slower horse....because that's what I expect her to do. It's all about the training.
 
#13 ·
I fully agree with g8dhorse! I know both those who push their horse to gait the whole ride...and feel so sorry for the horses. Then there's the people that I ride with that like to start out flat foot walking, and just gait a little here and there, with lots of stops along the trail to take breaks, admire the scenery, and let the horses drink from streams or rivers. I just don't see the pleasure in trail riding when you're flying by everything at a running walk. The lady that I ride with alot has a little 15.2 hh TWH, and my gelding is 16.2 - 16.3hh. He will slow right down and shorten his stride to walk beside of her and her little mare when it's just us. I'm still working on him as far as riding with a group...he thinks he has to be in the lead. As far as your back is concerned, IMHO, gaited is the only way to go. I know it's a lot easier on my ribs. Wether you choose the TWH, Rocky Mount, or any other gaited breed, I wish you luck in your search.
 
#14 ·
I have a TWH and my daughter has a quarter horse and we trail ride together all the time. Come to think of it, every horse I ride with is non-gaited. He walks when everybody else walks and does is running walk when everybody else trots. I can certainly see how a gaited horse would be easier on someone because my horses running walk is a smooth as glass.
 
#15 ·
Charlicata, I used to live in Spotsy! Across the road from Lake Anna State park entrance. I sure do miss riding at LA but we try and get down there at least once a year to ride....on our gaited horses! LOL!
 
#16 ·
LOL...I'm riding more at Graves now than LA. It is very nice for a day ride though. Rookie loves going into the lake at the one spot. :) When we go, we usually ride the side behind the park office and come back in for lunch, then ride the trail that goes down by the lake. Very very nice trails there.
 
#17 ·
LOL...I'm riding more at Graves now than LA. It is very nice for a day ride though. Rookie loves going into the lake at the one spot. :) When we go, we usually ride the side behind the park office and come back in for lunch, then ride the trail that goes down by the lake. Very very nice trails there.

We are going to have to meet up at Graves's sometime..:wink:
 
#18 ·
I rode Qh's for 30yrs. I developed arthritis in my hip joint and lower back I have a few messed up dics. I couldn't trail ride for more than 2 hrs on my QH. Then I started riding with Paso folks and it was ruining my QH to stay up and killing me. So I got my twh. He was a hand full at first but after we got to know each other his ride was better and I could ride him up to 6hrs. He would do a slow walk, but he wasn't comfy with it. Then I got a Missouri Fox Trotter X and now I have the best of both worlds. He has a nice QH type walk his fox trot and then his lope...I can ride this guy 6 hrs or more and not be sore at all....If I hadn't of tried a gaited horse I'd probably be out of the horse world.
 
#19 ·
We've ridden informally with trotters on trails and formally in units of up to seventy horses in close formation. If the gaited horse is trained and the rider competant you can match or set any pace you want to. The ability to "rate" one's horse is a basic skill.

Most gaited horses also have a "speed range" where they will be comfortable to ride. It is determined by the horse's conformation, strength, and fitness level. The smart gaited horse rider figures out what this range is and stays in it. Most of the time it's more than adequate for trail riding or various competitions. For most gaited horses, too, once you ride out of this range gait quality will deteriorate. For the lateral horse they will move to the pace; the diagonal horse will trot. They can't help it; their biomechanics will not permit them to hold their gait form at higher speeds. Using powerful bits, crops, and spurs will not solve this problem.

Gaited horses are "horses" first and "gaited" second. This fact is often lost in the wild world of breed chauvenism. A good rider figures out what they have under them and rides it effectively to do what they want to do. A bad rider doesn't.

G.
 
#20 ·
I agree Mingiz! Either meet at Graves or we're going to Gettysburg to Artillery Ridge the weekend before Halloween. Maybe you could meet us up there. If you can, all you have to do is look for a dark green chevy van with 2 very large antenna's on it, hooked to a white horse trailer (no living quarters). DH is pulling it with his truck that weekend.
 
#21 ·
The gaited horse is a great choice for someone with back problems due to their smooth gait. They can walk just a slow as a QH and don't have to be at the running walk all the time. I'd try to find one that isn't bred for showing since they are sometimes just a little high strung. Good luck!
 
#22 ·
Guilherme is totally right about the "speed range". We have a TW whose flat walk is so fast the other horses can't keep up if they walk, but when he moves into a gait he has to stay so slow that he can't keep up with the trotters. If he tries to gait any faster he goes into a bone-jarring, teeth-rattling hard pace that is impossible to ride. This has led to him being very frustrated when we ride with friends, as we're constantly having to hold him back one way or another. Now my husband either rides him alone or just with me and my horse. I hope that you can have some time to try out some gaited horses before you buy and make sure they will remain comfortable at the faster gait.
 
#23 ·
My new TWH mare (avatar pic) came from Cloud 9 Walkers. Laura and gang do an AWESOME job training and exposing the horses to all kinds of stimuli. Watch some of their videos on youtube and you can see the rider's movement in the saddle, the different speeds and strides of the horses and the terrain they work them over. Bluezfool is their page on youtube.
When we get another TWH, and we will as soon as hubby tries out Adia (formerly, Sissy, on their website) I'll go right back to Cloud 9. Laura was open and honest and I now have my dream horse. I couldn't be happier. Plus, NO PAIN after riding! You can view my comments on their site about "Sissy."
Best of luck in your search!
 
#24 ·
Having owned and ridden TW for years I highly recommend them :) I love QH and those lovely little arab types as well...but my first love is the TWH! I don't go in for that fancy high stepping stuff. I want my horse in his natural form :) well as close as we can get to it with human intervention anyways LOL. I love their natural gait. I think what I love most is their heart and willingness to learn. They'll give you all they have and then more if you were to ask. The one who owns me now, Rascal, is a doll and very very sweet :)
 
#25 ·
Gaited horses such as the TWH come in many different colors and sizes. They also have different gaiting tendancies. Some tend to walk slowly while others walk very fast compared to other horses. Some have a velvet smooth walk while others are bumpy and pronounced. All in all, however, the TWH makes a great trail horse and they generally are very even tempered.
 
#26 ·
Just for fun - I clocked my "wonder walker" TWH mare the other day on our gravel country roads to see how fast she goes in her gaits. Her dog walk (quarterhorse speed) is between 3.6 and 4 MPH; her smoother 'working walk' is about 5 MPH; her preferred speed of running walk is around 6 to 6.3 MPH; and her faster running walk is 7.1 MPH. These are pretty smooth but on gravel she never goes as fast as she does on a well-worn trail, where I really enjoy 'riding the glide.'

By comparison, we have a foxtrotter too, and he prefers the running walk instead of the fox trot. When he moves out, he leaves us in the dust! So I know my mare isn't particularly fast, nor particularly smooth, but she is a joy to ride and has more 'gears' than I know what to do with.
 
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