Gaited Horse DVD: 3/5hours of working with and understanding of Gaited Horses. Filmed at actual clinic held near Red Deer, AB.  DVD includes understanding what a 4-beat gait is, how genetics affect gait, saddle fit, exercises to improve gait and MORE!  

Do you know . . . → Read More: Working and Understanding Gaited Horses DVD.]]> Great for Christmas – ORDER TODAY!

Gaited Horse DVD: 3/5hours of working with and understanding of Gaited Horses.
Filmed at actual clinic held near Red Deer, AB.  DVD includes understanding what a 4-beat gait is, how genetics affect gait, saddle fit, exercises to improve gait and MORE!  

Do you know what gait your horse is doing?  Do you understand how genetics affect gait? Do you want to improve and enhanse the gait of your horse?  Understanding various gaits from walk to singlefoot to running walk and canter, this dvd can help you explore the various actions that gaited horses do.  Included is an explanation of the gait chart, some exercises to imrove the gait, detailed worshop on saddle fit and a quick introduction to TTouch. 3.5hours of understanding and working with gaited horses. See a brief video intro on You Tube.  http://youtu.be/pSetn1Wp0EM

CLICK HERE

April 27 -19, 2012,  Westerner Park.             

Have you ever wondered why you horse does what he does? Or why he doesn’t do what   you want him to do?  And you think you have “dumb” horse or a stubborn horse> Well,    sadly enough, its often the rider who needs the training, not the horse.

The Connected Riding clinic . . . → Read More: Connected Riding Clinic]]>

Have you ever wondered why you horse does what he does? Or why he doesn’t do what   you want him to do?  And you think you have “dumb” horse or a stubborn horse> Well,    sadly enough, its often the rider who needs the training, not the horse.

The Connected Riding clinic was awesome!  Sue led the riders through some exercises to help us improve our posture, our seat and our hands.  Even our eyes!  From learning to sit in the saddle, with a neutral pelvis to having soft eyes, our ride was more comfortable and our horses were much more comfortable.  All riders and all horses can benefit from using connected riding techniques.  How we sit, how we use our hands, how we relax our legs all determine the behavior and actions of the horse we are on.  Connected ground work also helps us and our horse BEFORE we get on. Regardless of your riding skills (or lack thereof) or horses’ training, everyone can benefit from learning Connected Riding.

There will be another 2-day clinic next year. Stay tuned for dates.

Sponsored by HorseSense HorseManShip

We learned about the various gaits that horses do- from the 2-beat diagonal trot to the 2 beat lateral pace.  And all the various gaits inbetween.  We learned that different breed . . . → Read More: Gaited Horse Clinic]]> What a great day for those of us who were able to attend the Gaited Horse Clinic, led by   Dennis Quilliams!

We learned about the various gaits that horses do- from the 2-beat diagonal trot to the 2 beat lateral pace.  And all the various gaits inbetween.  We learned that different breed associations call the various gaits by many different names, and that gaited horses can do a WIDE variety of gaits.  Along with a smooth 4-beat gait, gaited horses can trot or pace.  Breeding for the best gait is also very important.

An interesting couple of hours was spent on learning about how saddle affect the gait of the horse.  Did you know that most saddles sit too far forward and hinder the actin of the scapula (shoulder) bone?  Without freedom to move the gait won’t be as smooth as it could be.  So move the saddle back and free up the movement. Some saddles have flared tree or flex panels that will fit better and allow for better movement.

We learned and practiced some exercies to imporve the gait of the horse.  And a better way to sit in the saddle and hadle the reins in order to smooth out the gait.

This clinic will be offered again in the spring or we can come to your place and you can host the clinic. Be ready to sign up to get the smooth movin’ horse you want.   AVAILABLE ON DVD

Sponsored by HorseSense HorseManShip

Visit HorseSense Website for deposit and information

Learn these methods, which are based on classical riding principles, to promote comfort and athletic ability in horse . . . → Read More: Clinic on Connected Riding with Sue]]> Connected Riding Clinic,  October 15, 2011

Sue Falkner March, Alberta, Canada

Non refundable deposit of $50 by September 30th   Horse and Rider – $150  Audit – $50

Visit HorseSense Website for deposit and information

Learn these methods, which are based on classical riding principles, to promote comfort and athletic ability in horse and rider.  Riders relate they have more ease and lightness in their riding and that their horses are happier, more willing partners.

Schedule -
Registration and arrival 8 am to 9 am

9: 00-10:30 am– Intro without horses–everyone should have a hard chair to sit on–lawn chair or kitchen type chair

10:45-11:45am –group 1 rides

11:45-12:45am –group 2 rides

12:45-1:30—lunch  (Please bring a bag lunch, snacks provided)

1:30-2:30pm — group 3 rides

2:40-3:00pm –awareness work, no horses

3:00-3:50pm –group 1 rides

3:50-4:40pm –group 2 rides

4:40-5:30pm –group 3 rides
5:30 to 6:30 closing and cleanup

Sue about Connected Riding

“As a teacher, Connected Riding has given me many wonderful new tools to support physical and mental well-being in rider and horse, at the same time that its concepts are promoting increased athletic ability.
As a rider, Connected Riding has given me unique and highly effective tools to help my horse comfortably come into self carriage, free of tension and compression.”

What Sue’s Program Offers

Connected Riding and Groundwork to all disciplines with a background of Centered Riding. TTEAM Clinics with Connected Groundwork. Connected Groundwork for humans. Helping individual owners retrain horses with physical or behavioral issues, using techniques from Connected Riding and Groundwork, Centered Riding, the TTEAM method and Clicker Training. Application of Alexander Technique principals in working with riders’ posture awareness.

Connected Riding Teaching Preferences

One-on-one, small groups, lesson format, clinics, horse training, group talks, lectures, presentations, demos, horse expo.

Professional Credentials

Connected Riding Practitioner, Green
Centered Riding Level 3 Clinician/Instructor, TTEAM Practitioner II
Certified Farrier-Olds College, Riding Instructor & Horsemanship Course Okanagan College





1. July 16th, Saturday, Gaited horse clinic* 2. August 19 and 20th, Ladies weekend with Heather Russell (more info coming) ** 3. October 15th, Saturday, Connected riding clinic with Sue Falkner***

*1. July 16: Gaited Horse Clinic Reminder: registration deadline for gaited horse clinic is June 30th- We are . . . → Read More: Three Upcoming Clinics presented by HorseSense HorseManShip]]>

1. July 16^th, Saturday, Gaited horse clinic*
2. August 19 and 20^th, Ladies weekend with Heather Russell (more info coming) **
3. October 15^th, Saturday, Connected riding clinic with Sue Falkner***

*1. July 16: Gaited Horse Clinic Reminder: registration deadline for gaited horse clinic is June 30th- We are planning a gaited horse clinic on Saturday July 16th in Red Deer Alberta at our arena. The clinic will be about 6 hours of looking at the various gaits, overstride, understride, genetics, does your horse tend to the lateral or diagonal and more and what can we do to get the gait we want and keep it. Registration papers to be filled out are on our website www.horsesensedk.com under clinics as well as a way to pay your deposit on deposit you will have access to a free copy of the book”The Gaited Horse” by Dennis and Karen Quilliams. We will be accepting 6 horses and riders and 10 auditors.

Schedule  (Please bring a bag lunch, snacks provided)
8am to 9 am Registration and Arrival
9am Classroom – What is the gait? Areas we need to cover
There will be 3 groups of Horse and Rider Sessions during the day of approximately one hour each – this will be done in groups of 2 horses and 2 riders, other participants will be asked to observe and questions can be asked from those watching. Hopefully we will have a few different gaited breeds that we can observe and learn about. There will be enough classroom time and demonstration time to cover the areas of concern that you put on your registration forms or that you bring with you. We are also hoping to video tape this clinic for distribution so please be prepared for that. We hope to wind up by 5 to 6 pm.
Non refundable deposit by June 30th of $50  Horse and rider – $135   Audit – $75

**2. August 19 and 20^th Ladies weekend with Heather Russell — – 8 participants 4 spots remaining – more details to come

***3. October 15, 2011, Saturday, Connected Riding clinic with Sue Falkner – March. This is a clinic you will not want to miss!  Accepting 9 horses and riders and 10 auditors.
Non refundable deposit of $50 by September 30th   Horse and Rider – $150  Audit – $50

Learn these methods, which are based on classical riding principles, to promote comfort and athletic ability in horse and rider.  Riders relate they have more ease and lightness in their riding and that their horses are happier, more willing partners.

Schedule -
Registration and arrival 8 am to 9 am

9: 00-10:30 am– Intro without horses–everyone should have a hard chair to sit on–lawn chair or kitchen type chair

10:45-11:45am –group 1 rides

11:45-12:45am –group 2 rides

12:45-1:30–lunch  (Please bring a bag lunch, snacks provided)

1:30-2:30pm — group 3 rides

2:40-3:00pm –awareness work, no horses

3:00-3:50pm –group 1 rides

3:50-4:40pm –group 2 rides

4:40-5:30pm –group 3 rides
5:30 to 6:30 closing and cleanup

There are two gait genes. One gene is a trot gene, the other is a pace gene. All horses, regardless of breed, have 2 gait genes.  Each horse will, therefore, carry a gene pair, consisting of trot/trot, trot/pace or pace/pace. Horses that have a . . . → Read More: Gaited Horse Saddle]]> A Very Simplified Description of the Gait- The Gaited Horse

There are two gait genes. One gene is a trot gene, the other is a pace gene. All horses, regardless of breed, have 2 gait genes.  Each horse will, therefore, carry a gene pair, consisting of trot/trot, trot/pace or pace/pace. Horses that have a 4-beat gait have an additional gait gene (sometimes called a gait or gene modifier). However, there can be a hundred variations of that gait gene. Therefore, the horse will be trot/trot with a gait gene, trot/pace with a gait gene or pace/pace with a gait gene or some variation of these pairs.

These genes are inborn and natural, as can be exhibited by a young foal, gaiting along side of its mom. The gait shows up in a foal as soon as the foal has its legs underneath him and begins to move. By understanding the genetic makeup of a horse, it is easier to understand where all the varieties of action can come from. Horses will have the ability to trot as well as gait, pace as well as gait and even trot, pace and gait. A talented horse (but a frustration to the rider!) will have a great variety of actions to choose from! An experienced and patient trainer will be able to teach the horse, on cue, to move into any or all the various actions.

Excerpt from the book written by Dennis Quilliams, The Gaited Horse, available for purchase download at HorseSene 4u or HorseSense HorseManShip

A HUGE issue with Gaited horses is Saddle Fit.  Because of the slope of the shoulder, saddles need to be able to sit further back and NOT interfere with shoulder movement.  We have found that often when people say their “Horse isn’t very smooth” it is very common that the saddle is not positions correctly, or is too small and is pinching the shoulder.  Most gaited horses also have shorter backs, so saddle length  can be an issue.  Be sure to fit the saddle correctly and position properly.  There are gaited horse saddles available that will generally fit the horse and allow for freedom of movement.

Visit The Gaited Horse Saddle page to view some of the special saddles developed for gaited horses. Purchase one and see the difference it will make in your horses’s gait.  SPECIAL  TIME LIMITED PRICE!