Does no-one want a horse that paces?

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petite-girle

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Ok, this is actually about a friends horse. She's been trying to sell her horse for a while now, yet no-one will buy her because she paces. She is a good, safe happy hacker, she hasn't done much schooling but she has a nice jump. People come to view her knowing she paces, ride her etc and say they really like her. Then later ring back to say they won't buy her because she paces. Even those who just want a horse to hack round the lanes which she is perfect for. And this has happened on about twenty plus occasions, seriously!! So just out of interest, does no-one want a horse that paces?
 
petite-girle said:
Ok, this is actually about a friends horse. She's been trying to sell her horse for a while now, yet no-one will buy her because she paces. She is a good, safe happy hacker, she hasn't done much schooling but she has a nice jump. People come to view her knowing she paces, ride her etc and say they really like her. Then later ring back to say they won't buy her because she paces. Even those who just want a horse to hack round the lanes which she is perfect for. And this has happened on about twenty plus occasions, seriously!! So just out of interest, does no-one want a horse that paces?
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Do you mean she is a pacer?? I.e her action - like a trotter for example? Or do you mean that she box walks? Confused.:confused:
 
Do you mean the gait or in the stable?

Maybe there is something else wrong with the horse that's putting them off and it's used as an excuse.

If it's the gait, why does she pace? Breeding? Does she trot at all??

If she won't trot then she'll never to a basic dressage test and will be for just hacking, unless of course she's an Icelandic or something that has clasess and shows held especially for The Not-Trot.
 
Dizzle said:
Do you mean the gait or in the stable?

Maybe there is something else wrong with the horse that's putting them off and it's used as an excuse.

If it's the gait, why does she pace? Breeding? Does she trot at all??

If she won't trot then she'll never to a basic dressage test and will be for just hacking, unless of course she's an Icelandic or something that has clasess and shows held especially for The Not-Trot.
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They have no idea of her breeding. She could possibly be a native cross? I believe she was taught to pace - bought from a dealer. She does trot sometimes yes but this seems hard work for her.
 
I've ridden a pacer before, and to be honest "trotting" was horrible. Rising to it just doesn't seem to work, and as pacing is faster than trotting you can't exactly sit either.
 
It maybe that the people viewing her have never sat on a horse that paces before and therefore have no idea when they come to see the horse whether it will be an issue or not.
 
I wouldn't buy a pacer, personally. But then I wouldn't go to view one & waster the seller's time either.

I guess perhaps people don't have a real knowledge of what it means before they turn up. Perhaps she needs to be clearer about this in her ads? Just a thought...:)
 
Katt said:
It maybe that the people viewing her have never sat on a horse that paces before and therefore have no idea when they come to see the horse whether it will be an issue or not.
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^^^ this ^^^

I would be in the market for a hacking horse only - I don't want to do dressage or jumping - and I have never ridden a horse that paces - so I probably would go to see it, but maybe as another poster said, it is uncomfortable and so for that reason perhaps wouldn't buy the horse - It doesn't make the viewer a timewaster if they do this.
 
boxers said:
^^^ this ^^^

I would be in the market for a hacking horse only - I don't want to do dressage or jumping - and I have never ridden a horse that paces - so I probably would go to see it, but maybe as another poster said, it is uncomfortable and so for that reason perhaps wouldn't buy the horse - It doesn't make the viewer a timewaster if they do this.
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The thing with pacing is it's not necessarily uncomfortable - but it IS different and this is what people usually struggle to understand when they come to try one (we've sold a few).
Basically when they're jogging at a slow pace (which they can keep up for hours and is ideal for endurance), just sit back a bit in the saddle and let them move under you, you find you sway abit side to side but its more comfortable than sitting trot.
When they're pacing at speed the easiest thing to do is just get off their back in the same way as you would a normal galloping horse - I wouldn't try and rise to it, and in this way you can easily maintain balance.
Might be worth your friend explaining to people when they come to ride - we normally encourage more than one trial so that they can really get a feel for it.
 
I've only known a couple but they can be schooled out of it. There was a girl in my PC who had an ex-racing trotter that was fine most of the time but if he got tired and didn't want to canter he'd start pacing instead. And currently my share horse is an ex-racing trotter (who was very successful) and he's never paced with me (though its still early days) and is starting to do some beautiful dressage. Does she 'only' pace or does she do normal trot as well? Ditto above thought, I'd make sure that people were very very aware of how different it is before they view and then maybe ask if they can view more than once if they are interested.
 
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