Real-Life horse question

[TheGoldenSnitch1234]

I have an OTTB from New Zealand; while I love him, his trot is driving me mad. instead of trotting in diagonal pairs like normal, he uses both legs on the same side ( i.e, both right legs go forward instead of right front/left hind). he's over 16 hands, and already has a bouncy trot as it is, so i'm very uncomfortable when i trot him. i googled my issue, and all the info said he might be a pacer, which makes no sense as he was a flat racer, not a harness racer. does anyone know what this issue is/and or how to fix it?

[Rhorsegirl80]

I have an OTTB from New Zealand; while I love him, his trot is driving me mad. instead of trotting in diagonal pairs like normal, he uses both legs on the same side ( i.e, both right legs go forward instead of right front/left hind). he's over 16 hands, and already has a bouncy trot as it is, so i'm very uncomfortable when i trot him. i googled my issue, and all the info said he might be a pacer, which makes no sense as he was a flat racer, not a harness racer. does anyone know what this issue is/and or how to fix it?

I wish I could help! I have a gelding who's trot is very bumpy as well and I understand your uncomfortableness (if that is a word). Have you lounged him? Has he been like this since you got him?

[TheGoldenSnitch1234]

he has. he's a bit of a bull on the longe line; meaning he will run and buck until he wears himself out. he's the only horse i've ever ridden who has a trot like that. maybe they train the racehorses differently in New Zealand?

[Rhorsegirl80]

he has. he's a bit of a bull on the longe line; meaning he will run and buck until he wears himself out. he's the only horse i've ever ridden who has a trot like that. maybe they train the racehorses differently in New Zealand?

That is quite possible and it also could just have been the person who trained him or how he grew up. He is a racehorse? My gelding is a retired racehorse. Some racehorses are abused or trained unproperly, maybe that could have been the case. Who knows.

[TheGoldenSnitch1234]

maybe. he sure was a racehorse, and a darn good one from what i heard. most likely he was not trained properly. i have a pony who was trained harshly as well (poor baby!) , so i can see how maybe that would create certain habits... thanks for your consideration though!

[TallPinesTraining]

maybe. he sure was a racehorse, and a darn good one from what i heard. most likely he was not trained properly. i have a pony who was trained harshly as well (poor baby!) , so i can see how maybe that would create certain habits... thanks for your consideration though!

Here's a video you might find useful :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tiww6LBFOc

[Hazel]

A tendency to pace is genetic. I'm honestly not sure if it can be trained out of a horse, but pacers can usually learn to trot as well. I'd look at resources for training and riding pacers--whether it makes sense or not, you've got one, and it's going to be different to work with.

https://www.nature.com/news/horse-gait- ... on-1.11308

[reyn]

I have an OTTB from New Zealand; while I love him, his trot is driving me mad. instead of trotting in diagonal pairs like normal, he uses both legs on the same side ( i.e, both right legs go forward instead of right front/left hind). he's over 16 hands, and already has a bouncy trot as it is, so i'm very uncomfortable when i trot him. i googled my issue, and all the info said he might be a pacer, which makes no sense as he was a flat racer, not a harness racer. does anyone know what this issue is/and or how to fix it?

Hey, silly question but are you absolutely positive he is a Thoroughbred and not a Standardbred? Reason being I have a former harness racer and Standardbreds are very similar in looks and size of Thoroughbreds, but the giveaway being they can be trotters or pacers, the pace being the laterally legs moving rather than diagonal. Pace is a genetic gait so very unlikely a Thoroughbred would have it. Standardbreds are often sold as Thoroughbreds.

My Standardbred trots and paces, generally he will choose to trot, but when he is excited or unsure he will pace.

If you are positive he is a Thoroughbred it's possible he maybe has a pulled muscle of something else that is making him uncomfortable and choosing to move that way, so it's always worth having a full MOT done (back, teeth etc) to rule that out.