A. Equine Anatomy
B. Gait Sequences
THE WALK
The legs come to the ground in sequence for a four-beat gait — right hind (1), right front (2), left hind (3), left front (4). As a hind comes forward, the front foot on that side prepares to leave the ground and takes off a split second before that hind foot lands.
THE TROT
This is a two-beat gait, with the horse’s legs moving in diagonal pairs — right front and left hind (1) moving in unison, and left front and right hind (2) hitting the ground together. During the fast trot, there is a moment of suspension in which all four feet are in the air, but during the slow trot one diagonal pair is striking the ground as the other diagonal pair is pushing off.
THE CANTER (LEFT LEAD)
The canter is a three-beat gait. After the brief moment of suspension when all four feet are off the ground, the first leg to land is the right hind (1); then the left hind (2) comes to the ground, leading, and landing at the same time as the right front (2), the second beat of the cadence. Then the left front (3) comes to the ground, leading. When it leaves the ground again, all four feet are briefly in the air. At a slow canter, the horse has one or three feet on the ground at once, except for the moment of suspension.
THE CANTER (RIGHT LEAD)
If a horse is cantering on the right lead, his left hind leg lands first (1); then his right hind comes to the ground farther forward and leads (2), landing simultaneously with the left front (2) for the second beat of the cadence. Then the right front reaches farther forward and comes to the ground for the third beat (3), leading. When the right front is lifted again, there is a brief moment of suspension.
THE GALLOP (LEFT LEAD)
The fast gallop is a four-beat gait. There are two feet on the ground at once (both hinds, then the leading hind and nonleading front, then both fronts), but each foot hits the ground separately. In the left lead, the right hind (1) comes to the ground first, then the left hind (2), followed by the right front (3), and then the left front (4), followed by a brief moment of suspension — then the sequence repeats.
C. Resources
Magazines
If you are interested in training, driving, or a certain style of riding, you may want to subscribe to a magazine that specializes in a particular aspect of horsemanship. There are also many good articles that deal with various methods and aspects of training. Here are a few of the many magazines that occasionally publish training articles.
America’s Horse
American Quarter Horse
Association
800-291-7323
www.aqha.com/magazines
Western riding and performance
The American Quarter Horse
Journal
American Quarter Horse Association
800-291-7323
www.aqha.com/magazines
Mainly Western riding and
performance sports
Arabian Horse Times
800-248-4637
www.ahtimes.com
Arabians; breeding and training
Carriage Driving World
817-220-4239
www.carriagedrivingworld.com
Driving competitions
The Chronicle of the Horse
800-877-5467
www.chronofhorse.com
Hunting, jumping, eventing, dressage
Dressage Today
Source Interlink Media
877-388-7761
www.equisearch.com/dressagetoday
Dressage competition
Driving Digest
419-929-6781
www.drivingdigest.com
Driving in harness
Equine Journal
800-742-9171
www.equinejournal.com
Mostly English riding
Equus
Source Interlink Media
877-388-7761
www.equisearch.com/equus
Horse health care and handling
Flying Changes
360-687-0203
www.flyingchanges.com
Sport horses
Horse & Pony News
813-986-1003
www.horseandponynews.com
General-interest horse subjects
Horse & Rider
Source Interlink Media
877-388-7761
www.equisearch.com/horseandrider
Western riding
Horse Illustrated
Bow Tie, Inc.
800-538-3000 www.horsechannel.com/hihc_portal.aspx
Horse care, horse subjects
The Horsemen’s Voice
505-873-0150
www.horsemensvoice.com
Horse care, events
Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar
800-414-9101
www.pedlar.com
Mostly English riding
John Lyons’ Perfect Horse
Horse Media Group
800-424-7887
www.myhorse.com/perfecthorse
Horse handling and training
Performance Horse Magazine
Morris Magazine Network
817-885-7480
www.performancehorse.com Cutting and reining horses
Practical Horseman
Source Interlink Media
877-388-7761
www.equisearch.com/practicalhorseman
English riding
Savvy Times
Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc.
970-731-9400
www.parellinaturalhorsetraining.com/savvy-horse-club
Horse handling and training
Today’s Horse Magazine
866-704-6773
www.todayshorse.net
General interest horse
Western Horseman
719-633-5524
www.westernhorseman.com
Horse care, Western riding
The Whip
American Driving Society
608-237-7382
www.americandrivingsociety.org
Driving
Books
You’ll find books on training horses in most libraries, or you can order from catalogs. Books are also advertised in horse magazines. Following is a list of just a few good titles.
Brainard, Jack, and Peter Phinny. Western Training: Theory and Practice. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman, 1989.
Camarillo, Sharon. Barrel Racing. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman, 2000.
Dunning, Al. Reining. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman,1996.
Fielder, Paul. All About Long Reining. London: JA Allen, 1999.
———. All About Lungeing. London: JA Allen, 1999.
Harris, Susan E. The UPSC Guide to Longeing and Ground Training. New York:Howell, 1997.
Herbermann, Erik. The Dressage Formula. London: J.A. Allen, 2008.
Hill, Cherry. Arena Pocket Guides, English and Western series. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey, 1998.
———. 101 Arena Exercises. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey, 1995.
———. 101 Horsemanship & Equitation Patterns. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey, 1999.
Kevil, Mike. Starting Colts. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman,1990.
Kidd, Jane. Dressage Essentials. New York: Howell, 1998.
———. A Young Person’s Guide to Dressage. London : Compass Equestrian,1999.
Loriston-Clarke, Jennie. Lungeing and Long-Reining. Buckingham, United Kingdom: Kenilworth Press, 2004.
———. The Young Horse: Breaking & Training. Devon, United Kingdom:David & Charles, 2003.
———. Private Lessons: John Lyons Answers Questions about Care & Training. Greenwich, Connecticut: Belvoir, 2000.
Marten, Marty. Problem Solving. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman, 1998.
Miller, Robert M. Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman, 1991.
———. Understanding the Ancient Secrets of the Horse’s Mind. Neenah, Wisconsin: Russell Meerdink, 1999.
O’Connor, Sally. Common Sense Dressage. Boonsboro, Maryland: Half Halt Press, 1990.
Parelli, Pat. Natural Horse-Man-Ship. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman, 1993.
Podhajsky, Alois. The Complete Training of Horse and Rider. London: Harrap,1972.
———. My Horses, My Teachers. North Pomfret, Vermont: Trafalgar, 1997.
Savoie, Jane. Cross-Train Your Horse. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar, 1998.
Shrake, Richard. Western Horsemanship. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Western Horseman, 1987.
Strickland, Charlene. Western Practice Lessons. North Adams, Massachusetts:Storey, 2000.
———. Western Riding. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey, 1995.
Young, John Richard. The Schooling of the Horse. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1982.
———. The Schooling of the Western Horse. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1973.
Ziegler, Lee. Easy-Gaited Horses. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey, 2005.
Suppliers
There are many, many training videos available from numerous sources, including mail-order catalogs. Most of these companies will provide catalogs on request.
Action Rider Tack
Medford, Oregon
877-865-2467
www.actionridertack.com
Horse tack and supplies
American Livestock and Pet
Supply
Madison, Wisconsin
800-356-0700
www.americanlivestock.com
Horse products catalog
Bit of Britain Saddlery
Oxford, Pennsylvania
800-972-7985
www.bitofbritain.com
Horse tack
Dover Saddlery
Littleton, Massachusetts
800-406-8204
www.doversaddlery.com
Horse tack and supplies
Freedom Rider
Naples, Florida
888-253-8811
www.freedomrider.com
Horse tack and supplies (including
Western safety helmet)
Horse.com
(formerly Country Supply)
Louisiana, Missouri
800-637-6721
www.horse.com
Horse tack and supplies
Libertyville Saddle Shop
Libertyville, Illinois
800-872-3353
www.saddleshop.com
Horse tack and supplies
Miller Harness Company
Westford, Massachusetts
800-784-5831
www.millerharness.com
Horse tack and supplies
Nasco
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
800-558-9595
www.enasco.com/farmandranch
Horse supplies
National Bridle Shop
Lewisburg, Tennessee
800-251-3474
www.nationalbridle.com
Horse tack
Professional’s Choice Sports
Medicine Products, Inc.
El Cajon, California
800-331-9421
www.profchoice.com
Horse tack
Sportack
Park City, Utah
800-248-8225
www.sportack.com
Horse tack
State Line Tack
Hazel Township, Pennsylvania
800-228-9208
www.statelinetack.com
Horse tack and supplies
Supracor, Inc.
San Jose, California
888-924-6773
www.supracor.com/equestrian.htm
Saddle pads
Teskey’s Saddle Shop
Weatherford, Texas
888-955-2955
www.teskeys.com
Horse tack
United Vet Equine
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
800-328-6652
www.unitedvetequine.com
Horse equipment, medication, and supplies
Valley Vet Supply
Marysville, Kansas
800-419-9524
www.valleyvet.com
Horse equipment, medication, and supplies
Western Ranch Supply
Billings, Montana
800-548-7270
www.westernranchsupply.com
Horse equipment, medication, and supplies
Training Clinics
Clinics have been popular since the 1980s. Clinics are training demonstrations given by professionals in various fields of horsemanship to help educate both horse and rider. Some are lectures and demonstrations; some are hands-on training sessions in which the participants bring their own horses. If someone whose style of training you admire offers a training clinic in your area, take advantage of it. There is always more to be learned about training horses.
Associations
If you are interested in a particular sport, the parent association can often direct you to local clubs and groups that can be helpful in furthering your own and your horse’s education in that sport. Following is a partial listing of associations. (Additional listings can be found in the American Horse Council’s Horse Industry Directory, which you can obtain from the American Horse Council, Washington DC; 202-296-4031; www.horsecouncil.org.)
American Driving Society
Cross Plains, Wisconsin
608-237-7382
www.americandrivingsociety.org
American Endurance Ride
Conference
Auburn, California
866-271-2372
www.aerc.org
American Hunter-Jumper
Foundation
West Boylston, Massachusetts
508-835-8813
www.ahjf.org
National Cutting Horse
Association
Fort Worth, Texas
817-244-6188
www.nchacutting.com
National Reining Horse
Association
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
405-946-7400
www.nrha.com
United States Dressage Federation
Lexington, Kentucky
859-971-2277
www.usdf.org
United States Eventing
Association
Leesburg, Virginia
703-779-0440
www.useventing.com