What Does A Camel Walk Mean In The Gaited Horse?
By Gaye DeRusso
Some gaited horses have a very big walk. It is more common in the Tennessee Walking Horse, but it can happen in other breeds as well. This means they have a moderate amount of overstride (hindfoot steps over the front footprint, anywhere from a foot to many feet).
Due to this overstride when they are moving slow, the rider gets a fair amount of back-and-forth motion in the saddle. So much that it makes some people feel nauseated. It also can cause a fair amount of butt chaffing from this motion if ridden for long periods of time or if your saddle's seat is too big and does not hold you in place and you are sliding around.
The more relaxed the horse is, on a looser rein, the bigger the walk usually gets. Therefore, the rider gets more motion in the saddle. This is called the camel walk.
It is given this term because if you watch someone ride a camel you will also see the rider moving back and forth a fair amount.
When a horse is doing a camel walk, it can be that the horse just has a larger overstride but is still doing a 4-beat walk, but some people also say a horse has a camel walk, when a horse is pacing at the walk (doing a 2-beat walk) and does not have such a large overstride. With this kind of camel walk you will get more of an up and down sensation vs a back-and-forth sensation.
Either camel walk is not fun. With either, you can feel nauseated.
Can you fix it?
Yes, you can definitely improve a horse that has a camel walk. The horse that has a camel walk because of the overstride, needs to be ridden with more contact and asked to shorten up its stride, and collect some when doing a plain walk. With the shorter rein, you can regulate the horse's stride and balance the horse using your half halts. When the horse shortens its stride and engages it backend it will have less back and forth motion in the saddle.
But know if you go back on a totally loose rein, he is going to go back to that big overstride and back to the camel walk. But some of these horses have the funniest gaits as you go faster and can cover a lot of ground. So, if you like to move out and do not walk slow very much, this kind of horse may be fine for you or if you're willing to collect your horse at the walk. But if you want to flop the reins, be a passenger and just walk, this is a horse you might want to pass over if you do not like that motion.
If your horse is camel walking because it paces at the slow walk, then you just have to use your tools to fix the pace. Use your lateral work, such as serpentine, leg yield, shoulder in and walking over poles to break up the pace.
On the trail walk over obstacles, rocks, logs, branches, go in deep footing, anything to help you get a 4-beat walk. But it will take time for your horse to build the muscle to put each leg down separately, as he may be hard wired to do the pace and has been doing it all his life. But take the time to go slow and fix it and it will also make all his other gaits better.
So now you know what a camel walk means. Some don't mind it and some riders hate it. Everyone has their preference but remember you can make it better, but only by riding and communicating to the horse.
Gaited Books
Easy Gaited Horses By Lee Ziegler https://amzn.to/3vFuk8w
The Gaited Horse Bible by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3It0Imf
Gaits of Gold by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3jGXam0
Heavenly Gaits By Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3ieKGBP
Training the Gaited Horse By Gary Lane https://amzn.to/3jPcAVq
DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission if you buy something. This helps support the website. Thank you for the support!
By Gaye DeRusso
Some gaited horses have a very big walk. It is more common in the Tennessee Walking Horse, but it can happen in other breeds as well. This means they have a moderate amount of overstride (hindfoot steps over the front footprint, anywhere from a foot to many feet).
Due to this overstride when they are moving slow, the rider gets a fair amount of back-and-forth motion in the saddle. So much that it makes some people feel nauseated. It also can cause a fair amount of butt chaffing from this motion if ridden for long periods of time or if your saddle's seat is too big and does not hold you in place and you are sliding around.
The more relaxed the horse is, on a looser rein, the bigger the walk usually gets. Therefore, the rider gets more motion in the saddle. This is called the camel walk.
It is given this term because if you watch someone ride a camel you will also see the rider moving back and forth a fair amount.
When a horse is doing a camel walk, it can be that the horse just has a larger overstride but is still doing a 4-beat walk, but some people also say a horse has a camel walk, when a horse is pacing at the walk (doing a 2-beat walk) and does not have such a large overstride. With this kind of camel walk you will get more of an up and down sensation vs a back-and-forth sensation.
Either camel walk is not fun. With either, you can feel nauseated.
Can you fix it?
Yes, you can definitely improve a horse that has a camel walk. The horse that has a camel walk because of the overstride, needs to be ridden with more contact and asked to shorten up its stride, and collect some when doing a plain walk. With the shorter rein, you can regulate the horse's stride and balance the horse using your half halts. When the horse shortens its stride and engages it backend it will have less back and forth motion in the saddle.
But know if you go back on a totally loose rein, he is going to go back to that big overstride and back to the camel walk. But some of these horses have the funniest gaits as you go faster and can cover a lot of ground. So, if you like to move out and do not walk slow very much, this kind of horse may be fine for you or if you're willing to collect your horse at the walk. But if you want to flop the reins, be a passenger and just walk, this is a horse you might want to pass over if you do not like that motion.
If your horse is camel walking because it paces at the slow walk, then you just have to use your tools to fix the pace. Use your lateral work, such as serpentine, leg yield, shoulder in and walking over poles to break up the pace.
On the trail walk over obstacles, rocks, logs, branches, go in deep footing, anything to help you get a 4-beat walk. But it will take time for your horse to build the muscle to put each leg down separately, as he may be hard wired to do the pace and has been doing it all his life. But take the time to go slow and fix it and it will also make all his other gaits better.
So now you know what a camel walk means. Some don't mind it and some riders hate it. Everyone has their preference but remember you can make it better, but only by riding and communicating to the horse.
Gaited Books
Easy Gaited Horses By Lee Ziegler https://amzn.to/3vFuk8w
The Gaited Horse Bible by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3It0Imf
Gaits of Gold by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3jGXam0
Heavenly Gaits By Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3ieKGBP
Training the Gaited Horse By Gary Lane https://amzn.to/3jPcAVq
DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission if you buy something. This helps support the website. Thank you for the support!