Call Order?

[sparkle]

Hi TWH Folks: question for you.... what is the correct or usual call order for gaits during a a class? And can you please enlighten me a bit as to what each gait is supposed to show in comparison to the other gaits? Just curious.... thanks!! :D

[hackney_love]

I have been to a million WH shows but have never really paid attention. LOL! That is pretty sad.

When I get home, I will look at the new rule book I have and tell you.

[longshanks]

If you get through inspection, you will enter the ring at a flat walk, then running walk, then canter (probably not), reverse, flat walk, running walk, canter, flat walk to line up.

[sparkle]

Thanks, Longshanks.... and if you'll excuse my stupidity, what exactly is the falt walk? The reason I ask is because I've been at open shows where they call for the flat walk in the easy gaited classes, but the horses did not flat walk as I know it (ie. a "regular" walk). I really couldn't see much of a difference between the flat walk and the running walk. Is the falt walk a "slower" (for lack of a better term) running walk or is there more to it than that? Again, I apologize for my ignorance, but I really want to learn and know what it is I'm supposed to be seeing!! :surrender: :helpsmilie:
Thanks again!!! :D

[attafox]

Sparkle -

What we think of as a regular walk is known as a "dog walk" to the TWH folks and is not a gait that is called for.

[walkinghorseowner]

Longshanks, Imparting information about the gaits and the sequence, does not require a caveat "if you get thru inspection". My breed does not need your snide remarks, I have never seen anyone on the saddlebred side post anything about their breed that contains the smart comments that you issue. As an owner and breeder of TWHs for 40 years I take offense at your comments. If you wish to post info, post it without the slams and snide comments.

[Silly Filly]

While we're at it, the "probably not" canter, just means lots of TWH classes are not asked to canter.

[longshanks]

If you would like to read a complete description of the gaits, go here
http://www.twhbea.com/breed/gaits.php

Silly Filly is right. There are not many classes where the TWH is required to canter anymore. The majority of classes are specialty which means no canter required.

WHO, it isn't snide or slamming if it's the truth, but I'll be sure and take your comments under consideration. The fact of the matter is that before you can worry about the order of the gaits, you have to get in the gate.

[walkinghorseowner]

Inspection is not part of the order of the class call. The class starts when the horse enters the ring.
It is just as if you would say, so and so won the five gaited class, if he passes the bloodtest. Or if when they announced the winner of the derby. Mine that bird wins if he passes the drug test. Those are both true statements, but they are not announced every time a horse finishes a race or a class.

The flow of the walking horse show, is as follows. After completing inspection, the horses wait in the warm up area, prior to entering the class. At the call for the class the horses enter the ring at a flat wallk, then they are called to do the running walk, then the canter if required for that class. The horses then reverse and perform the same gaits second way of the ring in the same order before lining up for judging.

[SteppinEasy]

The flow of the walking horse show, is as follows. After completing inspection, the horses wait in the warm up area, prior to entering the class. At the call for the class the horses enter the ring at a flat wallk, then they are called to do the running walk, then the canter if required for that class. The horses then reverse and perform the same gaits second way of the ring in the same order before lining up for judging.

Well, you also have to add in the unofficial "rules" that dictate the way the class goes, lol. You enter the ring at a flatwalk (which is supposed to be a subtantially slower speed than the runningwalk, but it hardly ever is)...then, you stop. And w-a-i-t. For every horse to enter the class and also stop and wait until the gate is closed and the class is called. It's supposed to be a safety thing, keeping horses already in the ring out of the way of incoming horses, but it certainly does slow down the flow of the class.

Next, it's on the rail at a flatwalk, then the runningwalk (supposed to be more animation and speed, but often looks very similiar to the flatwalk) is called for. If the class is one of those rare creatures, a canter class, the flatwalk would be called again prior to the canter. Horses have the option of going into the canter straight from the flatwalk or stopping to give the cue. After the canter, you flatwalk again until the reverse is called for...

And upon the call to reverse, you get to experience that fascinating phenomenon of what appears to onlookes to be a class-wide game of chicken:p ! You stop on the rail and
w-a-i-t.
F-o-r-e-v-e-r...

So you contemplate life for awhile..and then finally some brave soul caves and turns around to get back on the rail at a flatwalk. Then you do it all over again.

Walking horse shows can be very long because of all the stopping and waiting. Used to drive me nuts (especially because I had a horse who wasn't big on standing at the rail; in line-up, he'd stand all day, but the rail meant places to go, people to see, let's get on with it already, haha!).

[longshanks]

HaHaHaHaHa, SteppingEasy you are so right about the waiting. Hurry up and wait. You nailed it. I think Billy Gray was the greatest "waiter" ever. That man would wait all night to make his patented last pass into the line up.

[walkinghorseowner]

I found the best way to stop all that waiting...especially if you have a darn good horse, is to go ahead and show your horse....and if you are the one waiting for everyone else to move then you are NOT showing your horse. You can get the crowd behind you and the judges attention, if you are marching down the rail while everyone else is still "fixin their hair".

[SteppinEasy]

Fortunately, my horse who hated standing was trail/country pleasure, so there wasn't so much waiting going on there, lol. It's mostly the padded classes that involve the major hurry up and wait moments (my horse would have been lapping the ring three or four times while everybody else stood there in one of those classes). It's kind of like in ASB pleasure classes when they call for a walk and you know your horse won't walk, so you hang out, stopped at the rail, for as long as possible. Like we really think the judge won't notice!

[sparkle]

Oh too funny!!! So now I HAVE to go to a breed show just to watch the.... well... waiting I guess. LOL I'll take Hubby with me and he'll be like what the ??? once the horses come in and just stand there. There is NO way my horse would ever trot energetically through the in-gate and then stop and stand on the rail.... OMG- it's hard enough to get him to do it during the course of a normal class, let alone before the class even starts!! :001_tt2:

So.... Would you be penalized if you entered and just went on your merry way around the ring at the flat walk? Or would you just be shunned by fellow exhibitors? OK, Guys, really and truly, people just sit there and wait for someone else to be brave enough to reverse?? :laugh:

Thanks for all your help and please keep chatting!! I'm off now to do some youtube searches for some classes... not only for the gaits that I want to see, but now I want to see the "hurry up and wait" aspect.... :ohmy:

[longshanks]

When the horses come in the ring, they usually flat walk to the far turn or so and then stop and wait for the others to come in. It's not like an ASB class where the exhibitors stay to the inside but remain in motion. But, sometimes it's a waiting game to even get in the ring. I've seen classes where everyone wants to be the last horse in, don't ask me why. It can really be a waiting game to get to the line up. I never really understood it, myself.

I don't think there would be a penalty for not stopping. I've never heard or seen that, it's just how things are done.

If you want to watch some classes from the 08 Celebration, go here
http://www.twhnc.com/results-8-27.htm

[PonyPrincess]

Ooh, thanks for posting that link, longshanks! It's never occurred to me to go looking for video of walking horses before (I'm still getting used to having cable and being able to load video at all), and still pictures just don't do them justice! I'm actually more agape at the canter than anything else - they seem to come up so far! I don't know if I want desperately to try one, or if I'd just end up hanging on for dear life (probably a little of both). ^^;

Their front feet look a little oddly shaped (to me) - I'm guessing these are the sort of horses that have the built-up shoes? Is it a result of that, or are they also wearing boots?

[SaddlebredMom]

OK, Guys, really and truly, people just sit there and wait for someone else to be brave enough to reverse?? :laugh:

It's not really about being brave enough (funny as that is though :D ). They use this as a break to regroup and get some instructions from their trainer before they take off again for the finish of the class. They are permitted to use wireless headsets (like bluetooths) too, so the communications can be more than your trainer standing next to you at the rail, they can be at the other end of the ring and be giving you instructions. And I would imagine that the waiting till everyone gets in the ring can be lengthy -- have you seen the size of their classes!!

[saddlebreds_and_buses]

Ooh, thanks for posting that link, longshanks! It's never occurred to me to go looking for video of walking horses before (I'm still getting used to having cable and being able to load video at all), and still pictures just don't do them justice! I'm actually more agape at the canter than anything else - they seem to come up so far! I don't know if I want desperately to try one, or if I'd just end up hanging on for dear life (probably a little of both). ^^;

Their front feet look a little oddly shaped (to me) - I'm guessing these are the sort of horses that have the built-up shoes? Is it a result of that, or are they also wearing boots?

NOT all walkers will canter like that... Only the big licks. Yes, they have "stack" "packages" or "pads" on.... Some wear chains, boots, nothing,. Depends ont he the shows and classes. And yes, on a big lick, it is a little weird at first!!:D

[PonyPrincess]

NOT all walkers will canter like that... Only the big licks. Yes, they have "stack" "packages" or "pads" on.... Some wear chains, boots, nothing,. Depends ont he the shows and classes. And yes, on a big lick, it is a little weird at first!!:D

Yea, I figured it was probably a 'show horse versus the average horse' thing, just like with Saddlebreds. Still, it looks awesome!

Thanks! I'm going to pass the link along to some horse-loving friends that don't ride, so I wanted to make sure I was handing out the right info with it. ^_^

[scrtwh]

Yea, I figured it was probably a 'show horse versus the average horse' thing, just like with Saddlebreds. Still, it looks awesome!

Thanks! I'm going to pass the link along to some horse-loving friends that don't ride, so I wanted to make sure I was handing out the right info with it. ^_^

Those padded horse canter classes are eye-blinking. The canter is almost a rear up and spread out from the front, to pull the hind up under them. It looks uncomfortable for both horse and rider, of course the whole padded thing is somewhat of a shake your head gig.

I show in Trail Pleasure 3-gait, we routinely have over fifteen horses in the ring and I have never stopped and waited for the rest of the class to come in, my mare would do it, if asked, but ...

TWH's are a blast and can do anything and do it well, hence the versatility program. If you have a chance go to a show where versatility classes are offered check it out. We do barrels, reining, dressage, over fences, poles. We compete for points against the more traditional breeds at these in addition to breed show offerings. This year they started three day eventing at Devon for the "non-traditional" breeds and a TWH just won the World's Championship Extreme Cowboy Challenge and if you've ever seen what they ask those horse and rider teams to accomplish, whew ... http://www.twhbea.com/News/ExtremeCowboy0506.php

Anyhow, great breed, fun offerings at shows, a blast to ride, enjoy ...

:D