confused and in question

[RowdyCowgirl1613]

Hay yall! Well.. about month ago.. I got a 6-almost 7 year old Missouri Fox Trotter gelding named Buddy.. He isn't really trained for anything in particular.. He has been used for parades, and mostly trail riding.. He's SUCH a great horse.. if ya know how to handle him.. and ride.. i've been working with hime alot.. he's so smart it's scary.. he's got SPEED for barrels.. but i know that not all horses can be all-round horses.. i think if i got him on barrels..that would be all he would want to do..SO.. I'm stuck on that.. I really think he'd be great at it..i just dont wanna lose how great he is now.. I could do halter with him.. or western pleasure.. but he's got those some what funky gaits so i dont know about that..Could you guys please help me with some advice on what i could do with him.. He's a great trail horse but i wanna do 4H with him .. im just not sure what i should show in.. He's not exacly what people would call laid back.. He's not a horse you can put just anyone on.. you have got to keep your hands on him when youre in the saddle.. but when youre not on him and hes on a lead.. brushin or whatever.. he's GREAT!! PLEASE SEND SOME ADVICE MY WAY!! ANY ADVICE GIVEN WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Elana55]

Spend more time with him and get to know him first. A month is not a long time. He is gaited so you cna likley forget Western Pleasure etc.

If he is "hot" try to cool him a bit and get his focus changed.. maybe try him at trail obstacles.. and see if he will do that.

If he is athletic, maybe try some reining or dressage. If he is a great horse with a great at***ude, it never hurts to get him to learn dressage and about getting balance and his weight off his front end. If you give him these basics, he will be an even better barrel horse.

This is not to say he will ever be a horse you can put anyone on and it seems that is not your intent. However, it sounds like he is a bit hot, so perhaps the thing to do is teach him to use his body in balance and to bend and to be precise in lead changes, half passes and other typoes of maneuvbers. If you work at these things for 6 months to a year not only will your horse be even better, so will you.

In that time frame you will also learn each other's weaknesses and that will show you what great things this horse will be headed for in the future.

[Chenay]

Good advice given by Elana55... a month is not a long time to spend with a horse.

I am a stock horse girl myself, therefore, I dont know much about gaited horses but here is what I would add to Elana's post.

I know you are interested in 4-H and you are to do it on your own at the shows, but get a coach for at home. The best/fastest/most rewarding way to learn is from someone who already knows HOW.

Western Pleasure is out the window in an all breed show, his breed isnt meant for that.

Showmanship, Trail, Halter, maybe pattern classes like Horsemanship and English Equitation would be your best bet to show in my opinion, rail classes would not suit you.

Do you lunge prior to riding? A lot of "hot" horses simply need to get the air out of them before getting worked. Try lunging 12-20 minutes in a round pen before you ride, see if that helps. Also, dont feed him any "hot" grain like beet pulp, sweet feed, or anything with molasses in it in general.

Listen to Elana when it comes to not having others ride him (if you are "training" him that will just set you back anyway) and also getting the body parts in control is huge no matter what discipline you are going for.

It sounds like you love him a lot, so good luck!!!

Wish you the best!!!:)