-> Hi there, I've been gone from BBSing for quite some years, but I have
-> horses, and have been reading your recent messages.  My horse is the good
-> version of the generic Plantation Walking horse.  He does
-> everything as natural as can be, and does it smoothly.  I believe he was a
-> reject from a training barn because he didn't quite make it as one of the
-> big lick horses there.  Someone took his papers and gave them to one that
-> did, and he was sold without.  But I benefited from this, because even
-> though he WAS a reject, that made him high quality anyways.
Well welcome to the echo!
-> He's black, which is generic as all get out, and he is smooth as silk. I
-> could pick his double out of any of the VOICE walking horse magazines from
-> many of them shown that are winning in Plantation Pleasure classes. In 
other
-> words, he isn't just smooth as silk, he moves right and is built right 
oo.
-> I've not had very many horses in my life, but I almost can't believe I've
-> got one that I like so well.  He's four years old, and no, I can't get his
-> papers.  I learned all that stuff second hand about his papers being
-> changed.
Well I have to say that as the Registrar of the Norwegian Fjord Horse 
Registry,
you shouldn't take anything you heard second handed as being the final word 
n
the papers.  Either call or write to the registry and ask them what has to be
done to get the papers in your name.  They will have all of the answers for
you.  It may not be possible but I would be surprised if it isn't.
-> We have a chestnut Shetland pony stallion- a pet,
->
-> a chestnut Walking Horse stallion - a real high stepper,
->
-> a chestnut Walking Horse gelding - safe/dependable kid stuff,
->
-> a sorrel Walking Horse mare - almost a pony (very small & flashy),
-> a Palomino/Paint Walking horse 2yr old filly - her daughter,
->
-> a flea-bit grey Walking Horse Mare - brood mare,
->
-> a dun weanling - her baby,
->
-> a Dun/paint/Walking horse stallion/yearling - Really flashy too, he has 
blue
-> eyes rimmed with black (real evil looking), a bald face, and four white
-> stockings to the knees/hocks. His tail has a victory V of three
Wow, you do have a lot of horses!
-> Anyone there got gaited horses?  And how do you start a horse to learn to
-> pull things?  (As in carts, logs, buggys, etc...)  One of our horses is at
-> such a great and steady age, that I think he's ready to learn somthing 
ike
-> that and make himself useful in ways that the rest of our stable doesn't.
-> (He's our kid safe horse.  He won't even step on a cat unless it's trying 
to
-> get his food)
We used to have a guy that was into gaited horses.  I don't think we have
anyone here anymore though.  As to getting started driving, the first step is
ground driving.  The easiest way to start this is to put the saddle on and 
se
some fairly light rope to use as reins.  Connect a length of rope 
clothesline
size) to the bit on each side and run it back through the stirrups (have them
run up).  Then start trying to walk around behind the horse.  Use voice
commands to get started.  Have help if needed.  If the horse doesn't turn 
hen
you ask it to with the reins have someone turn it for you when you ask.  Do
this until you both feel comfortable with stopping and starting and then try
getting up to a trot.  When your ready for the next lesson let me know.
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