Don't buy in to
the myth that the only way your horse will gait is by framing, force
or mechanical manipulation. Correct
gait has nothing to do with what is nailed on his feet, or how
severe the bit in his mouth. Natural horsemanship training is
all about teaching
your horse to find and carry his own effortless and balanced gait. Gaited horses have the inherent ability to perform their easy gaits within the limits of their own conformational structure
because
its bred in. Like a car with many gears, often gaited horses are so versatile in their abilities it can
sometimes be difficult to help them find their best easy-gait, and stay with it.
Just remember it is the horse's responsibility to give us his natural gait, but it is OUR responsibility to
know how to ask him for the gait we want.
The natural training process creates freedom for the rider to
maintain a balanced and independent seat, and to stay out of the horse's mouth; but more importantly it frees the horse to move unencumbered, in relaxation and
in comfort; allowing him to achieve self-carriage. This is so vitally important because only through self-carriage can a horse become truly balanced, and without balance a horse's athleticism will be always be compromised.
This coming 10 yr old stallion is a
Three Time
National English Pleasure Grand-Champion. He has won this impressive title
at the F.O.S.H. North American Pleasure Walking Horse National Championships
in 2002, 2003 and again in 2006! He also has 4 other National Championship and
Grand-champion titles to his credit. Papa's blue ribbon wins are
well into triple digits at this point, and our focus is now
turning to what he can sire. All his
offspring are showing natural, multi-gaited, loose movement that epitomizes a
great walking horse. His oldest, Gracie, is now consistently
winning in the show ring, and all of his babies that have been started so far
are
demonstrating amazing natural running walk ability,
as well as that superb and effortless, rocking chair canter.See video here of "Papa's Graceful Spirit". This amazing young filly shows that Papa is a "proven" sire.
Papa is helping us bring back the solid conformation and "authentically correct gaits" of the foundation walking horse to our breeding program. We're striving for horses that gait as soon as they're started under saddle
with long loose stride and natural athletic
balance. We place special emphasis on natural gaiting talent before all other considerations. Like foundation greats such as Roan Allan,
Papa will hit 8 different gaits under saddle; this is
the foundation purpose of this breed, and what Papa is passing on.
Feel free to browse through a variety of articles on natural gait training for the Pleasure Walking Horse. Here to help people understand there's a better way to train walking horses: Natural Horsemanship. They were written mostly for publication in the membership newsletter, as well as select other publications in the USA and Canada.
I am happy to offer natural gait training and correction to outside horses here at our farm. Let me help your horse learn to carry himself in a correct, smooth and naturally fluid gait, and help you understand your role as his rider. I do not start green horses under saddle other than our own here at Howe They Walk Farm. My focus is entirely on those horses that will immediately benefit from gait correction instruction or other specific training needs that I agree with the owner would be appropriate. I normally take only 2 or 3 outside horses at any one time, working with them on average of 60 - 90 days toward specifically set goals. The owners are then brought in for several hours of lessons before sending the horses home.
Please see my "training" page for specific requirements for horses coming to Howe They Walk Farm for training.
I also offer one-on=one lesson times for riders to learn how to improve the gaits of their horse as well as gain a better understanding of natural gaited riding and communications. I understand that not all owners want someone else to train their horse for them, but may need the advice to achieve the gait they desire.
HORSES-4-SALE
We don't sell a lot, but those few we do are correctly gaited and will be represented accurately to you. Our goal is to find the perfect FOREVER home for each horse, and that means we try our best to match the rider's needs and abilities to the right horse for them.
We welcome you to come on in to take a look at our horses for sale. We're very proud of them and will sell them only to people that will love them, care for them and are as excited about owning them as we are. People who will value the trust they have been raised to have in us. They each love and respect people and are totally comfortable with the roles we have in their lives. They've been helped to find their natural gaits and carry the rider in balance and without support.
Please note: if you're looking for a bargain horse, save yourself some time...we don't sell them. We take pride in putting a lot of time, effort and love into these horses. We also give them the best in feed, supplements, wormers, vaccinations, farrier and veterinary care. Our guys are sound, well cared for and handled daily. That kind of trust and care doesn't come with a bargain price tag.