Foxtrot Project

How can I get my foxtrotter/clydesdale gelding to stay in his foxtrot gait more often?

I trail ride my gelding alot and would like him to stay in his foxtrot for longer periods of time since its very smooth. Everytime I ask him to gait he does for a couple of minutes but goes into a very rough trot. I ride him in a snaffle copper roller bit with 8" shanks which he seems to like but someone suggested that I have to change it to a walking horse bit? I'd rather not have to change bits since he is part clydesdale and finding bits to fit him is quite hard. A friend put side reins on him to tuck his head more and he started tossing his head so I took them off. Any help would be appreciated since there are not any gaited horse trainers in the area I live in.

Public Comments

1. I am glad you took the side reins off if they caused him discomfort. How often do you ride and how far? I think that you need to train him by walking, then ask for the foxtrot. Go back to the walk before he trots. He needs to build up his endurance. Give him time for this. Do you lunge him? If you do, try the side reins very long,so he stretches his neck forward and seeks the bit. Over weeks, shorten them after he is warmed up. Shorten by small increments. Again you are building his back and neck muscles and it will take time. This sounds like a young or out-of-shape horse. Go slow and build well and your horse will give you years of good riding. Go fast and push ahead before he's ready and he'll have behavior and performance problems.