Showing in the TWH Shows?
I was always a dressage, english, western shower mostly stock horses and some Arabians and half Arabians. Now I have been asked to show some already trained TWH. I said okay. They know I have not shown this breed before, but say it is not that hard. If you can ride you can do it. I got the horse to do the flat walk and running walk just fine, but what sort of stuff as far as show etiquette will be different?
I was thinking about doing some trail pleasure 2g and country Pleasure 2g. I am assuming 2g means flat walk, running walk no canter?
Also, what are the differences between a western TWH and an English ridden TWH? The differences are pretty apparent in the stock horse show, but I cannot tell with the gaited horses. They seem to be doing the same gaits with the same amount of extension and speed. I also watched some video of them turning on the rail and they turned into the rail to get on the opposite rein, but in stock horse classes you turn onto the arena to change direction. Did I see this wrong? Just tell me everything you think I should know.
Yes, 2-gait classes will be flat walk and running walk.
As far as differences between english and western classes, english horses tend to have a slightly higher headset and more animation. Country pleasure horses are one of the least animated english divisions for walkers, so it will be very similar to the western walker classes. Western horses should neck-rein, and they will all turn towards the rail. They should do a pivot on the forelegs.
Obviously other differences between walking horses and stock horses would be that you don’t post on a walker, and you sit back more than with other breeds. Western walkers will still have a higher headset than you would be used to, because they need to keep their head up to gait properly. Make sure you can still rate the horse’s gait well when neck-reining, many walkers I’ve worked with cannot gait as well without two-handed rein support. My walker particularly will end up with his head high, and nose out, and a rougher gait.
I would do some research, go to TWHBEA.com. There should be plenty of info. there. There is indeed no difference between english and western, because the TWH gait is suppose to be definite, pure, and natural. No slowing or speeding of the gaits is ideal. Also, they nod their heads and therefore headset is not an issue in 2 gait classes.
That’s all I know about showing in breed shows. I like to show my walkers in open shows mostly.
I think you are right in that the two gait class requires the flat and running walk but no canter.
Also, you were right in that they reverse the opposite direction from what you would see at a stock horse show. They turn towards the rail. They also can stop and sit there before proceeding, rather than immediately continuing in the other direction.
I also think that the gaits are the same, western or English, but I believe (and I could be wrong here) that in an English class, they’re looking for more animation and elevation–similar to a HUS class or English class at a non-gaited horse show that looks for more forward movement than a WP class.
I think asking someone familiar with showing this breed (like maybe the people that own the horse?) would be a good idea. My answers are based off of my experience with competitive judging (we judged–and won–the TWH National Celebration…but obviously we weren’t the ones showing. We also judged mostly padded English classes.) but my actual riding experience with that breed is limited to one ride on a WGC…fun, but I had no idea what I was doing
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I would recommend you get some lessons from someone near you who successfully shows Walkers. If you can ride you can do it, as you said, well yes but it is a bit different riding a walker than a trotting horse. In order to do well and maintain a nice gait you would benefit best from lessons and learning about the breed and how they move.
Good Luck,
Jenny