Gaye,
Thanks, Chianti is a perfect match for us. We have rode
him around the barn, will probable take him
out on a short
trail ride today. He is lots of fun and a little bit of a clown and everyone at the barn
has showered him with oohs and aahs and a few cookies thrown in.
I
do have a question regarding shoes. We would prefer no shoes if possible, but would like to know the
pros and cons on how either way affects gaiting. You were busy
yesterday with a client, we did not want
to bother you.
Thanks
again, Gaye, for all your help and not giving up on us.
From butch cassidy's (now called
enzo after the ferrari) new owner
Hi Gaye,
I gave a second lesson to Michele yesterday. It went really well. We got
some big break throughs as to what the real trouble is (too much pressure and inconsistency in how it was used and there was
no real release).... We'll be meeting again in a couple of weeks.
Oh, hey, Sheree and Pepper (I forgot what
name she had when you had her..??) are doing really well, too.
Well, take it easy,
Hello Gaye,
Update
on Rembrandt...he is doing well...I have been easing him into patrol
duties over the past few weeks and shows
improvement every ride. So far so
good and I am happy with his progress...Seems like he has not been exposed
to various objects and things out and about, but after proper handling and
exposure he quickly adapts to his
new environment....we hope it continues
that way...
Attached are a few photos...
Hope all is well
with you,
Hi Gaye,
This past Sunday was my third lesson on Trigger and I have to admit I am getting a little frustrated so I was
hoping for some advice. Out on the trail Trigger is great. Even though it's all new to him he is willing
to go where I ask with only an occasional hesitation (and alot of the time we are out by ourselves). He seems very relaxed
and although I am concentrating mainly on the flat walk for now, he will do the running walk and canter when I ask. The arena
is a different story. With each lesson he seems to be less relaxed. Sunday I couldn't get him to give at the
poll at all and he actually seemed to be pretty adamant about not doing so. I've been riding him with a kimberwick
with the reins in the lower slot. I think you said you had been using a snaffle in the arena, do you think
that would make a difference?
I'm thinking that maybe we are spending too much time in the arena and it would be better if we just worked for
20 to 30 minutes max on the basics and then hit the trail. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks!
Hi......
Sure I can help
Why is he in a kimberwick any how? There is no reason to use one, use your bitless or snaffle
with no twist in it or a mylar level 1 with a shank, you need independent reins you will not get that with a kimberwick
He had a very soft mouth and always gave so he is confused and showing you that, so get rid of that bit
What
are you working on in the arena? And how long?
Also if you can get someone to video I can tell you a lot more
You should be working on getting you stronger and independent seat and then working on bending, serpentines, leg yielding,
changing gaits etc
Could be the person helping you as well but fill me and and we will fix it
Gaye
Hi Gaye
Okay so I started out using a snaffle but switched, I'll go back to that or
try the bitless. The first lesson I used a snaffle and we worked on all the things you have listed below and he did really
good the only thing was that when I tried to canter to the right I couldn't get the correct lead. The second lesson was
in the kimberwick and I couldn't get the canter and he was a little pacey. I think we worked on trying to get the canter
for too long without changing things up. Third lesson (kimberwick) every time we came out of a corner he tried to pick up
the canter even though I wasn't asking. Poor guy probably remembered what happened the week before. Boy do I
feel bad!!!
I've been doing a group lesson with 2 others (non walkers). It end up being about an hour and 20 minutes but the other people do some jumping so we do some standing around. I've been feeling
that it's too long. I think for the next few weeks for my lesson I'll just do 20 minutes of basics, make sure my equitation
is good and then hit the trail and work on transitions a little and see how that goes.
I'll see if I can get someone to video
me.
I really love Trigger he's such a good boy and we've
had alot of fun on the trail.
thanks,
Hi ....
i would stick with the snaffle or the mylar bit i'm talking about, it
helps to set their head especially if your not good getting their head down, but you do need a curb chain on it or the bitless.
the bitless is fine for regular stuff but if your really trying to work on gait or collect them at the gait or canter,
a bit works better. if he is pacey, you are going too fast and riding past his gaits
when you want him to put his
head down, put pressure on both reins, hold until he drops his head then release your fingers on the reins so he feels a release
, then he will understand this is what you want. if your not good with your hands then when you want head down, put pressure
on reins but put your hands on your legs, so you have something to brace against otherwise if you keep pulling when your suppose
to release he will get confused. try it at a stand still first, when you have that, try it at a walk but squeeze with your
legs when you put the pressure on the reins that way he knows to keep walking and not to stop, when he drops his head, release
the reins and your leg and he should keep walking. only use your leg when you want him to keep walking and your getting his
head down or if you want to change speed, otherwise he should just keep going the same speed with out you squeezing all the
time.
when you want to canter to the right, shift your weight to your left hip and leg, that opens his right side
up so he can get the lead, reach back like you are going to hit him with your left hand and have your reins in your right
hand, this will set up your weight to help him and he should pick it right up, if he doesnt hit him with your hand. once your
better then you can stop the hitting and keep the reins in both hands.
he is only turning 5, so their attention
span is less then the older horses and they get bored just like kids do. so practice your stuff and if you both get it right,
then be done with it and go on trail, then the arena doesnt seem so bad to the horses. and you can practice most the stuff
on the fire trails, and circle around trees and bend, leg yield on the fire trail, then serpentine
some etc, stop when going down hill and see if you can back up it some, use your imagination, he's done it all, go over
obstacles etc, when you canter on the trail, set him up for the right lead or circle to the right and then ask for the lead
out there.
if you need any more advice or help , just let me know, i'm so happy your having fun. i just loved
him. has he done any of his acrobatics when he is turned out? he was such a clown!!
thanks
gaye
Thanks Gaye,
I'll let you know how it goes. He hasn't done much when he's been turned
out alone but when he was turned out with another walker gelding the two of them really put on a show!
Gaye!
U r going to DIE! I was coaching my
new caretaker, Sharon, on how to ride Maddie. She was on bareback. She was trying to get MG to do a 'jog'
trot, so she was collecting her up and asking for speed.. and MG started GAITING UP A STORM!!!!!!!!!! It was AWESOME!!!!!!
That training u did on her.. what? Over a year ago now... it all came back!
I was just in AWE!
THANKU so much, Gaye!
Hey
Gay –
I apologize for being so long on reply.
Thank you for your offer.
Actually, he is coming along fine, I just took him on a 100 mile+ 5 day ride.
With the exception of
one incident where he took a shot at my buddies Mare, she was being pretty insufferable, but 5 minutes later we were riding
side by side – seemingly no harm done. He was willing, surefooted and generally a pleasure. Best Regards,
Glory in picture above and Cookie below
Hi Gaye,
I
rode Glory on trail, with my dad on cookie, great ride. Glory was awesome, such a good girl.
Hi Gaye,
my boyfriend rode Cookie, he loved her, she was so good with him, he's only ridden a few times and I had him
cantering!!
Hi Gaye
Glory was perfect on the trail, Cookie
also, we trotted and cantered, you made Glory and Cookie such good girls, thank you so much.
Hi Gaye,
Things
are going great. Trigger gets along well with everyone and is so willing to do whatever I ask. We went on a search for a lost
calf last Saturday and had to navigate some pretty steep/ rough terrain and he did awesome. The only problem
we had was that he lost a shoe during the ride. I had the farrier out and we pulled the other one and I'm going to
try him barefoot and see how that goes. I wasn't able to ride him for 3 days (waiting for the farrier) so
when we went out yesterday he was a little looky -should have round penned him first. Lessons start Sunday. I will definitely
give him a kiss for you. Thanks for doing such a good job with him, he really is an awesome horse!
Hi,
I love your website, the gaiting videos have been very helpful to me.
Hi Gaye,
Tried out a real pretty young
chestnut gelding last week. The women raised the horse and assured me that it didn't buck or rear. The second time riding
it, it put it's head between it's legs and kept bucking until it threw me of. I ended up in the hospital and can still barely
move. What a mess, I'm spooked now. Maybe an older horse would be better?
Gaye,
Your site is great/ very informative.
Hi Gaye
Thanks
so much! I have inquired about a couple of these horses.....but will check out the others. Thanks for keeping
me in mind.....will let you know how it goes.
Hi Gaye ,
thanks
for the response...
Well, he is 5. I dont know the extent of his training. I bought him from a ranch in Las
Vegas (dream walker ranch) that touted him to be a calm, well gaited trail horse. He is sweet and very
loving.. beautiful, but he has no cadence... he jogs and then trots fast (i know walkers have their own gaits and names for
them, forgive my ignorance..) but he doesnt stay in one or the other.. he lopes for short distances but wont stay on track..
cant stay in a straight line to save my life, zig zags all over... fights the bit most of the time.. i know i am not using
the right bit on him. I know nothing about walkers... i fell in love with his beautiful face. he seems to want
to do a good job and tries.. but he is annoying to ride. He plow reins only and really is not easy to stop. it
seems like i am pulling on him constantly. He gets irritated at me and then bunny hops or lil baby rears... he was almost
150 pounds underweight when I got him. I have fattened him up with guidance from my vet. The vet told me his back
end is under developed and i need to try to long trot him to develop his bootie... easier said than done due to the inconsistency
of his gaits. Im not sure if there are cues i should be giving him to do a flat walk, fast trot or whatever.. i dont
know what bit to use. eeeeekkkkkk!! What was I thinkging. Anyway... what do ya think?
Hi Gaye,
>We met about a year and a
half ago when you were selling "Biscotti." Not a day has gone past that I didn't wish I had been able
to buy him. Do you know of any other nice *little* horses like him that you have come across in your travels?
Any chance the current owners are moving on and looking to sell him?
>Just figured I would finally work up the courage
to ask
>Thanks,
Hi
Gaye,
That was very nice of you to take time our of your day to look up these horse for me :)
I went to your site and was very impressed
with your ethics and I can see that you are true to your word.
If I find a horse in your area, I would love to have you take a look
at him/her.
Thank you for your input. I really appreciate it. This is an overwhelming experience at times and it
helps to have as much info as possible.
Hi Gaye... your horse is just beautiful... i know where to go if ever
I decide to buy a really trained walker... (now that I know the difference :) )
I ran into a man through some friends here in town that is a walker lover from way back. He fell in love with
my lil guy and bought him. He will train him and take great care of him. so I feel happy for my lil horsie
who will be loved and trained well.
I appreciate your help and guidance. I will be going to walnut creek
in a month or so to visit and I will get ahold of you before so I can see your barn and cool horses... Thanks so much!
Dear Gaye,
Baylee and I can never thank you enough for all you have done
for us! You've made him a calmer horse and me a better rider. Your kind, ,patient, expert approach is exactly what we
both needed. I look forward to many more years ahead of learning, riding and friendship. You are awesome!!
He’s doing great but I do need to stay on him. I did get a new bit for
him which seems to be working well.
Hi Gaye,
Sorry I thought I had written you back. Just had an extra busy & crazy week. This week better.
Anyways, Tino is doing great! One of the ladies rode him x 3 last week and then I worked him in the round pen
the other days. Starting this week she is only going to be ride him x 2, and tomorrow I will start my lessons on him. The
lady is putting some sort of vaulting thing on him and we are going to start in the round pen with her lunging him and me
developing better balance. She said I will be able to ride him in a trot, canter and even jump him with no hands! Says this
will help my confidence in riding him. The other lady that rides Tino is planning to start taking him out on the trail. They
both think he's great, especially for being a young horse. He is back to his old self. I knew all he needed was a little
bit of work, but surprised that it was so fast.
Hi gaye,
Wow.
I'm more gullable than I thought. Shame on them. Crap. I will post it. That pisses me off. Oh
well. I will video him really good and send u his various gaits or whatever they are so you can see. Thanks sooo
much.
Thanks Gaye, I plan to go to
the expo in Sacramento, and will try for the clinic in Oroville, but I'm not sure if I can make that one. Pepper
is doing well, adjusting to the new crowd at Brown Ranch but making her way ok. I tried to get some pictures, but they
did not turn out very well. I'll try again and send them over when I get a good one.
Thanks again, and
hope all is well with you too!
Gaye,
Thanks you SOOO much!
These are the best pictures I have ever seen of him and the video is terrific. You are so good to me! How can
I ever thank you??
Hi... I have a beautiful Palomino Gelding Tennessee Walker .. He is double registered KGA and Tennesee Walker.. and I dont
think I know how to ride him.. or maybe he needs more training. Can you give me an idea on rates for training with you and
what is the procedure for that. I am considering selling him because I dont know how to ride him correctly. I have always
ridden quarter horses and he is very different. Thanks!
I love Winston and am having a great time learning. I owe you sooo much
for finding me and helping me with an awesome horse.
Cookie and Gaye
Cookie has been ridden once a week after I took her on about
a year ago. Her owner was no longer coming to the barn, the owner had previously only ridden her in the arena. Cookie was
spooky, unpredictable, and rearing in the crossties. I put on a foundation and also put trail miles on her, she had never
been on the trail. Cookie got a great new owner who has continued to work with her and keep her in training. Her new owner
now goes over obstacles on the trail, walks, trots and canters on the trail and has even ridden her alone on the trail. cookie
has also now packed beginners around the barn and novices on the trail. See what some training and consistancy can do for
a horse. i now ride cookie once a week to keep her tuned up and you would never know she had any of the problems listed above.
Shes good with cows, goes thru water, still alittle cautious with
bikes but improving, good with dogs and is really a great trail horse now.
Marianne and Outlaw
......and ....... came visiting yesterday
when i was in the arena,.... said outlaw and i rock.... different horse then a year ago....made me proud.... and he is sooo
good, i'm just so lucky.... except the darn thing doesn't stop growing, i wanted a small horse, what happened....maybe
he is warmblood who grows 17 feet tall....,
hi, gaye! i don't know off hand anyone who wants a horse job, but i will put the word
out.
shiloh is doing well, other than i haven't
riden much this spring because i had wrist surgery, and my arm was in a cast for 6 weeks. dr's orders: no
horse riding. did i completely comply? no. . . .
shiloh and i are going to a gaited horse two day clinic in june put on by julie carpenter. i think it will be fun, and we will
learn so much.
how are you??? any new horse
projects?
Hi Gaye
Last night I was thinking about snapping a picture for you...
He was knee deep in grass and looked up at me as I was driving in! He looked so handsome.
I didn't ride much this winter but am meeting up with a friend in two weeks to start a serious of trail
rides. I am sooooo looking forward to it!
Gaye,
Thanks SO much
for your encouragement. I did feel much more confident except on the piece of trail where he got spooked at Borges Ranch.
Maybe you and I can work on how I need to handle that. I would also like to work more on keeping him in gait.
That was a good combo, a bit of arena work and then the trail. I REALLY appreciate everything you do for me. You are
the most AWESOME trainer I have ever known and you have taken Baylee and me to places I never thought I would see possible.
I know we have a long future ahead as I can only keep learning from you as long as I am able to ride. I count
you as a special trainer, doctor, AND most importantly, friend. You are one special lady.
Hi Gaye,
Yes it was dreamwalkers. I called them when he came and asked several questions. I
was told the deal was sold as is. That he was just fine when he was there, etc. I am sorry to say I did not
try him first. I asked a ton of questions and spoke to the owner of dreamwalkers alot before buying him. I guess
i just trusted her. Hes not awful. but he is bumpy and hard to rein. I have taken lessons. Im 42 and I have been
riding since i was 6. I have barrel raced, and show western pleasure, equitation etc. I realise walkers are
different.. but I had no idea how different. I have no idea why he was underweight.. i also called dreamwalker because
I had him vet checked the morning after he arrived.. the papers they sent with him didnt match his pedigree. They did
not have a good answer for that...I felt kinda dumb and like I got taken a little bit. Maybe Im too naive and now I have
learned. The vet told me he needed to gain a minimum of 100#. Dreamwalker disagreed with that.
I just didnt argue with them. They were very nice on the phone and I dont want to say anything negative about them. His
price was 5500.00 . I have been working on him since February. I just took him to the vet last week
and Dr. ...... said he needed another 25-50# on his body. He said he looked sound but needed muscle built
up on the back end. On the trail he is like a puppy.. so excited and walks FAST.. Im usually a couple lengths ahead of
everyone else. He gets irritated when I try to slow him down and this past sunday he was kinda rearing when
I whoa'd him to keep him with the rest of the group. he was really pissing me off. Your description of
gumby is dead on. He is doing the fast walk with the head bob most of the time. If you lope or gallop him it is
very uneven compared to what i do on my QH. He almost feels like the front and the back of him is out of Sync.. and
doing 2 different things. He wouldnt know how to sidepass to save his life..
I have some very good friends who own CastleRock Arabians right down the road from your barn...
is my husband's lifelong friend and I spoke to him tonite about bringing my horse to you.. he spoke highly of the barn
you work at :)
I will send videos of him ASAP.. i attached a couple pics for you... I have
to talk to my husband and make sure he we can do this financially... i hope so. You obviously have great knowledge of
this breed and I am very grateful for your input. I have a wonderful QH mare that I show--but she is a snail on the
trail and that is why i got him.. i had been looking at Dreamwalker's sight for a long time.. they have beautiful horses...
and I am sure he is going to be wonderful one day.. I just dont have the knowledge or experience to get him there. I
have a great trainer at my barn who has helped sooooo much.. but he is a dressage/western pleasure guy and he admits
he has limited walker experience. He's doing what he can for me. I am sure we are confusing the crap out of my walker..poor
guy :) Thanks again.... I hope I will be able to do this.
Hi Gaye - Raven trying cow penning
Love your
very informative website. Your info on what to look for when buying a horse (trail, for example) is so spot on. Most
of us have made mistakes - bought for the wrong reason/s and, hopefully, learned some lessons down the road. I know
numerous people who continue to make bad buying decisions. I just don't understand it.
Hi Gaye,
It will be two years in July that I bought Raven from Diane. Thank you for advertising him - thank you to Diane
for selling him to me. We get along great. He's been a terrific horse for me. With him my riding and
confidence have improved immensely. He's also a super horse camper! Occasionally, I go to Youtube
(my "time waster"). I still like to see the videos of Raven you posted. A week ago my niece and her
two little horse crazy girls (8 and 6) from New York visited me. I borrowed a pony for them to ride but he was too full of himself, as was my
old, always reliable(?), 25 year old paint. Told Raven he had to rise to the occasion - and he did. I was so proud
of him. He was such a good boy. Thank you, Gaye - Thank you, Diane!
The pictures above are of Raven and
I in Yosemite last summer, 8 year old Maggie riding, 6 year old Willa getting a Raven nuzzle. Below-Raven is now also a model for Catchmask www.kdwesternworks.com/products.html
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thanks gaye, so much for all your caring and support, it truly
means so much to me!
Hi gaye, Ransom hasn’t been dominating at all since coming back from training – no nipping etc. thanks
