Why Do Gaited Horses Park Out?
By Gaye DeRusso
Parking out is something many gaited horses can do especially the Tennessee Walking Horse. Some do it immediately from birth and others do it after being taught how to do it. Some teach it for the show ring and others to help them get on the horse because it makes the horse shorter when they are stretched out.
Parking out is where the horse stands with its front feet square, but the back legs stretched out. The Tennessee Walker and many gaited horses that have Tennessee Walker in their breed lines park out naturally, because many of them have back legs longer then their front legs, so it is a more comfortable way to stand this way.
You will see them parking out in the field, when tied up or in the cross ties and even under saddle when you take a break. This is their preferred way to stand because it is more comfortable for them.
But when you are not use to gaited horses and see one that keeps parking out, many people panic that something is wrong. He or she must have a neck or back problem or leg issues.
Some horses may have never parked out before and all of a sudden start to park out. Yes of course, that can be a sign that something is medically wrong, but when a horse has always parked out or has been taught to do it from a cue, then this is not the same thing.
I have seen people post about it, and so many respond something is wrong with your horse. Again, if the horse has done this all its life or been taught to do it, then it is not a sign that something is wrong unless it is a new behavior.
Any horse that is flexible and has longer back legs can park out pretty easily and as I said many prefer to do it when standing still. I have taught many horses to park out and the flexible horses with longer back legs, are the horses that do it the easiest.
The horses that are stiffer and do not have longer back legs, can do it some but not to the extreme of the flexible horse with long back legs.
So just know that many park out, in the first week they are born and if they do it naturally, they usually do not have any issues. But if they just started to park out then it may be a sign something is wrong, and you should have your vet check the horse.
By Gaye DeRusso
Parking out is something many gaited horses can do especially the Tennessee Walking Horse. Some do it immediately from birth and others do it after being taught how to do it. Some teach it for the show ring and others to help them get on the horse because it makes the horse shorter when they are stretched out.
Parking out is where the horse stands with its front feet square, but the back legs stretched out. The Tennessee Walker and many gaited horses that have Tennessee Walker in their breed lines park out naturally, because many of them have back legs longer then their front legs, so it is a more comfortable way to stand this way.
You will see them parking out in the field, when tied up or in the cross ties and even under saddle when you take a break. This is their preferred way to stand because it is more comfortable for them.
But when you are not use to gaited horses and see one that keeps parking out, many people panic that something is wrong. He or she must have a neck or back problem or leg issues.
Some horses may have never parked out before and all of a sudden start to park out. Yes of course, that can be a sign that something is medically wrong, but when a horse has always parked out or has been taught to do it from a cue, then this is not the same thing.
I have seen people post about it, and so many respond something is wrong with your horse. Again, if the horse has done this all its life or been taught to do it, then it is not a sign that something is wrong unless it is a new behavior.
Any horse that is flexible and has longer back legs can park out pretty easily and as I said many prefer to do it when standing still. I have taught many horses to park out and the flexible horses with longer back legs, are the horses that do it the easiest.
The horses that are stiffer and do not have longer back legs, can do it some but not to the extreme of the flexible horse with long back legs.
So just know that many park out, in the first week they are born and if they do it naturally, they usually do not have any issues. But if they just started to park out then it may be a sign something is wrong, and you should have your vet check the horse.