I’ve owned a Rocky mare for almost a year now, and am still having a number of problems. She is a real sweetheart when I’m on the ground, but can be a handful when I’m out riding. Sometimes she’s really well behaved, but other times she wants to fight me to either go home or be the first one in the line of horses. When she can’t get her way she starts shying or bucking, so I have had to get off and walk her home on several occasions. I’ve tried using different bits, and done some ground work with her, but everything has limited success. I do love this horse, as she’s sweet as can be in many ways. She lets me pick up all four feet, leads well, is the first one over to the gate when I go out to pasture. I just need her to behave when she’s under saddle. Help!

I was browsing through your wonderful site and noticed a comment regarding Foundation Bred Appaloosa's and their "Indian Shuffle." We just bought a 2 year old and wondered if you might be able to provide more of a description of this type of gait. Also, are Appaloosas, as a breed, considered a gaited breed?

Hi Brenda,

I have a lovely racking horse that came with, as one of your other writers put it, a lot of lies. I'm also an older rider, but I do not want to give up on my boy. His most serious problem is that he is head tosses. I have had my vet check his mouth and everything seems ok there. I have tried many bits including walking horse bits ( a couple) short shank quarter horse bit, short shank tom thumb , and I'm currently using a low port Kimberwick. Nothing seems to help.

Because I have to "push" him to get any forward momentum but then need to pull him back down once I get it because he breaks into a trot won't I be working against myself in instilling the gait in him? I have a really hard time getting this guy to collect as any contact with the bit seems to slow him too much or stop him all together. I am riding in a thick D snaffle, he is barefoot, and I've tried both a western saddle, english dressage saddle and a Steele saddle (though, the Steele seems to fit him better he works the same in all). Do you have any suggestions as I do not wish to ruin what gait is there???? How do you get a "pokey" horse up on the bit with forward momentum..., and keep him there?