​Gaited Horses- Another Reason For Tripping - Going From Flat Land To The Mountains

​Gaited Horses- Another Reason For Tripping - Going From Flat Land To The Mountains
By Gaye DeRusso
 
Gaited horses were most popular in the Midwest but now you can find gaited horses everywhere. When buying a gaited horse, some of you do not realize that if you buy it from a flat or hilly region and then ship it to you in a mountainous region like, Utah, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, or California, that it will take time for that horse to adjust to the new terrain.  
 
A horse that gaits and moves balanced on the flat or hilly areas, may not do so in the mountains. Climbing mountains is a whole different story. Think of it this way, you are able to walk 5 miles easily on the flat, but if I took you to Yosemite and we hiked 5 miles, you might pass out by the end of it. Going up and down those trails and being aware of where your feet are, is not easy and then imagine carrying someone on your back. 
 
It takes time for horses to adjust to the footing and the terrain. It doesn't take a month; it could take a whole year. You might think since the horse does the trail it's fine, but this could be a reason it is tripping. If it’s tired because of the steep terrain and you are going for long rides, it may start to drag its feet and then start to trip, where it had never tripped at its previous home. 
 
If the horse was only ridden in an arena such as a show horse, it will take time for it to adjust to climbing up and down steep mountains, to climbing over rocks, to lifting its feet high enough to clear the terrain. This takes conditioning which takes time. You cannot expect them to do a 5-mile trail that is very steep and not trip, when they have not been condition to do steep terrain.
 
Knowing where your horse was ridden before, how often it was ridden and the terrain it was ridden on, will help you prepare it for its new job. But expect a horse that was ridden in the arena or the Midwest or even the East Coast, to have some issues when it arrives at your house in Montana. It has to get use to the new job and build its strength and proprioception before it does a good job and that can take a year.
 
Using poles in the arena, doing some steep but then flat terrain, and alternating harder rides with easier rides will help your horse to learn but also stay surefooted.
 
I remember riding this one TWH that was in California but the horse grew up on completely flat land, it had never been on a hill. As I took it out for trail training, it could hardly get down the hills and these were not even steep. So, I would ride it on the flat and uphill but get off and hand walk it down the hills. I did this as well as pole work. As it got better, I started riding it down the hills, helping it go slow and balanced, by half halting each step, keeping my weight back, but also stopping every 10 steps or so and giving little breaks, then moving on. 
 
Friends riding with me, would tell me he looked drunk, they thought he was going to fall over, and I told them don’t worry over time he will get better. But they didn't believe me, and they thought he had EPM or a neurological condition. 
 
I just kept it up and ignored their comments. It took some time but around 4-6 months he had gotten so much better. At a year he could climb up and down our steep trails like it was nothing. Those non-believers became believers. So just remember where your horse came from and what condition it came in. Take the time and teach it climb and balance itself. Yes, you may have to hand walk it at times to make it easier for them and safer for you. But in time they will get there. 
 
In the process, it may stumble or trip this is normal. You must put in the work to help them, so your horse is ready for the task at hand.  You may be surprised how different they are once they are conditioned and prepared for their new job.