Where is the pain/problem?

I might have asked this before, and I certainly don't know much, but could it be that he was never trained/allowed to canter?

I have a Fox Trotter mare that I can only get a proper canter out of half the time, normally going up hill because it shifts her weight back over her hind end. On the flat ground she will often swap leads or do a pacey thing rather than a proper canter. I get the impression that is common with gaited horses.

If I've already asked that before (I don't remember) then please disregard this post. It also could be a combination of both....a lameness issue along with a horse that doesn't know how to canter.

Does he ever canter freely not in a round pen? Like a straight line in a field or arena? Does he move the same way?

Also, (again, forgive me if you've done this already) but have you asked this in the gaited section?

I just watched the 2011 video as well, and I really feel that's what my gaited mare does too. And she's sound at all other gaits. It's the most god-awful thing to ride. And when I mention it to other gaited horse owners they act like they know exactly what I am talking about.

Maybe some more experienced gaited people could tell if it is an actual lameness or just normal gaited horse issues?

Or maybe he is actually very lame like others say and I am just unable to see it because I just see him pacing and swapping leads on the back.

Thanks so much for the info-- I know for close to 10 years of his life he was just sitting in a pasture, I know gaited horses have these problems so I am trying to figure out where to go from here.

It is horrible to ride- I hate it. :( I asked to see other people's gaited horses to see if they cantered the same way.

It is hard for me to even say because he does it all the time but then goes and runs around in the pasture. He even has the ability to trot away from me when trying to grab him ;)

Quick question, what breed is he? I'm just wondering because my Morgan used to have a weird gait like that. Nothing was wrong with him, and it was wonderful for endurance trails because he could keep it up forever.

Could it be something within his breeding?

He is a Tennessee Walker. He gets pretty sweaty at the canter though, he either does this the whole time or gallops, no true canter.

Hmmm, I'm not too experienced with walkers except one my cousin had that was poorly trained. Would be interesting to see what happens :)

He almost looks like he is a gaited horse that trots to me. What breed is he?

Has he ever cantered?

From the video I'm thinking go for the lameness exam over the chiro because it could be anything from him compensating because he has sore front feet to having sore hocks, to having a pelvis issue, to a stifle. So many things can cause that particular issue that it's going to be really hard to pin point it...

Oops. I should have read the second page before responding. Some gaited horses simply can not canter. He may just not be capable. They are built to travel from a side to side type of motion and sometimes just can not physically canter... :(

He is lol :)
Tennessee Walker

That is true.

What I noticed in All of your video's (glad to see 2011 also) was that he is off balance. No matter what direction he is moving his head is bent towards the outside while it should bend to the inside. When they are driving to the outside the leg is taking a shorter step and they will look lame. He needs to bend and use both hind legs the same length of stride.

I think he needs some training and getting him collected and balanced. Any classical training would help but since he is gaited I like Larry Whitesells videos. Start with the ground ones.