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Will he ever be able to jump2007-11-24 21:23:08

I have a gaited TWH who is not only beautiful but he is HUGE!! he is about 16.5 hands and is very clumsy. His owner says that he used to jump well then he would get lazy. So they stopped trying. Since then he has gotten way over weight and I am working on him to get the weight off. I heard that gaited TWH's are generaly not good jumpers and are used better in dressage. Is this true? Him being gaited would mess up his stride in between jumps wouldn't it?? I really need to get back into jumping soon so i can prepare for the Fair next year. Please help!!

Answers:

Yes, I have seen many Saddlebreds, Tennessee walkers, Rocky Mountains, and other gaited horses that are generally used for trail or horses that are used for dressage jump.

Picture:

http://www.equine.com/horses/ad_details.

I don't think they could go very far or high, but it depends on your horse. EVERY horse can jump, especially if it is a trail type horse (TWH are) because then they can jump logs or do a trail class and that calls for little jumps.

Here is a video of a Walker jumping...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh658l1is...

Have fun and get balance by doing a lot of poles! If your horse is clumbsy, just make him do a lot of foot work!

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in time he will learn. just keep practicing and working him out.

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My sister in law has a beautiful thoroughbred that is 17.2 hands and she has him in shows jumping, and we are talking 4 ft. and up. He is trim, so you need to get your guy back on track with his diet. This guy, Riley, shows well, and even though he is big he is strong and able to jump beautifully. He also does dressage, but his love is jumping. It takes a strong person to ride him, but if you are able to hold on and handle him, your horse will within time be able to jump and not be clumsy. You are going to have to give him time, be patient, train him, or have him trained if you aren't able to, and watch his diet.

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Gaited horses dont have comformation to be a jumper. Yes it would mess up the strides between every jump becuase there strides are harder to count and are more of a mess. They are generally used for Dressage because of his floaty trot. I would suggest not to jump him. You or him will get injured.

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TWHs are not very good for jumping or for dressage. Granted, they CAN DO both - but they probably won't be very successful in competition for either...