I did a bad bad no no last night.  I bought a horse at a sale 600 bucks + 600 trade on a saddle.  She's an 11 yo. Spotted Saddle Horse, perfect markings, and gaited gaited gaited!  The poor thing was quite strung out from the whole ordeal, but it looks to me like she's one that got treated rough.  They threw a saddle on her, and GO GO GO.  She has good brakes, however.  I hope I can get her to relax a little. Anyone got any tips to help me get her to realize that it's not about get on and gait like heck?  Why do people do that stuff?! This isn't the first gaited horse I've seen that's been like that.  Anyhow, I was wondering if a wonder bit would be an appropriate bit to use.   I've never been a big fan of those long shanked walker type bits.  Another question.  Papers.  All it says is UNKNOWN then her name, and she's considered registered?  To be a SSH does it just have to be spotted and gaited?  If there is no record of her lineage, how can she be "registered"  She certainly is a SSH, but I just wonder how that works. 

Wish me luck....I just couldn't pass up the deal.  I was looking for a SSH, but didn't have 3,000 to spend.  I suppose if I got taken, then I can resell her and not take a loss.  I'm sure I'll have more gaited questions.

Like most registered breeds, in the registry's beginnings, they had to take horses for registration based upon examination.. No difference in QHs, Apps, Rocky mountains, or whatever.. The spotted saddle horse registry is fairly new, therefore many horses that are registered as foundation animals, and were done so based on their meeting the registry's standards as to what characteristics the breed should exhibit..ie: appearance, gait, etc.. Many of these horses have/had unknown parentage.. saddle stock or whatever.  If she has saddle horse registry papers with her name, description and a registry number, then she is registered.. If you are in doubt, call the registry and talk to them to clarify your concerns.. I have two gaited mares, both of whom I ride with a snaffle bit.. They both gait just fine without the long-shanked rigaramole... As to her nervousness... YOU JUST BOUGHT HER YESTERDAY!!! Give her some time to adjust to her new life.. I'm sure that once she gets accustomed to you and figures out what kind of person you are, she will begin to trust you and settle down... It takes a while to get "in tune" with your horse...As to "gaiting like heck".. maybe that is what her previous owners/riders expected of her..

GIVE HER TIME!!! And enjoy!

I agree with Ridingarocky.

I've got Foxtrotters that do well in full cheek snaffle bits.

Just remember you don't ride the papers.  The papers document the age and ownership of a horse.  The pedegree helps you to make an educated guess as to what the horse was breed for, disposition, hereditary health concerns etc.   As the breed registry matures, they will close the books to new horses and only those with registrered parent will be registered after they close the registry.

I've got one foxtrotter that has brown papers the rest have blue papers..  Blue papers inthe MFT world indicate all the pedigree on the paper were registered horses.  The brown paper means there are some pedigree on the registration paper that came from unknown registration.  With my brown papered mare, I know her age, parents etc. I just don't know where a couple of her great grandparents came from.  The SSH registry may have something like this. Check with them.

I agree about giving your new horse time to become comfortable around you.  Teach her she doesn't have to go full speed all the time. I've got a friend who won't ever trail ride with me because his horses ( all quarter horse) are trained for Chariot Racing and Barrel racing.  They don't know how to walk. They always go full blast for 40 seconds. They give it all in one fast burst of speed.    My horses have done so many CTR and Endurance rides where they have to cover 25-50 miles in a day. They have developed a work ethic that say. The sooner I cover the miles, the sooner I get to relax with out a rider. Since  they are in shape and legg'd up it can take miles before they get the piss and vineger out and start to relax.  I have to work at getting them to relax and slow down. I periodically have to put them at the back of the pack and make them walk at what ever speed the group is traveling. If I let them go to the front of the pack, They are off and moving.