Why does my horse break gait, and how do I train him to hold it?

A horse that breaks gait unexpectedly is communicating something, and figuring out what that something is determines how you respond. The causes fall into a few broad categories — physical discomfort, lack of training, rider error, or some combination of all three — and treating the symptom without identifying the source will not fix the problem long-term. Physical causes should always be ruled out first. A horse that consistently breaks at a particular point in the arena, in a specific gait, or after a certain amount of work may be dealing with soreness in the back, hocks, stifles, or feet. A veterinary evaluation before a training program is not wasted time — it is essential groundwork. Lameness that is not obvious at a walk can become apparent under the demands of a sustained trot or lope. If the horse is physically sound, the issue is most often a training gap. Young or green horses break gait because they have not yet developed the strength or the understanding to sustain it. Asking a horse to hold a lope for an extended period before it has the muscular development to do so is setting it up to fail. Build the gait in short increments and reward the horse for holding it even briefly before asking for longer stretches. Rider error is more common than most people want to admit. An unsteady hand that inadvertently gives a half-halt, a rider who shifts weight at a critical moment, or someone who releases pressure the instant the horse breaks — rather than before — can teach a horse that breaking gait is the right answer. Recording your rides from the ground occasionally gives you perspective that is impossible to get from the saddle. To train a horse to hold its gait, be precise about where you apply your aid to maintain, and be equally precise about when and how you reward correctness.