Gaited Horse Information

Most horse breeds are able to move in three distinct forward movement styles, or gaits, called walk, trot and canter. Gaited horses, however, can move in additional gaits beyond the typical three. Several different breeds are considered gaited horses, each with its own rhythm and style of movement.

  1. Defintion

    • The term gaited horse refers to a group of horses rather than one specific breed. Gaited horses have the ability to move forward in non-traditional rhythms, such as a four-beat lateral gait or a four-beat diagonal gait. While the movements are natural, gaited horses have been bred over many generations to enhance their ability to move in these special ways. These horses also have subtle conformation differences that lead to their gaits, including higher neck placement, steeper shoulder angles and lower hocks in the hind legs. Sometimes a horse of a breed not typically known as a gaited horse can be trained to move that way, but this is unusual.

    Gaits

    • The horse moves its lateral legs together in a pace.

      The walk is a four beat movement where each foot hits the ground in succession. It's the slowest gait, and most comfortable for humans to ride. The trot is a two-beat gait with the legs on the diagonal moving together: hind right, front left together then hind left, front right together. The faster canter is three-beat gait, starting with one of the hind legs (left or right) then the opposite hind together with its diagonal front-leg counterpart hitting together then followed by the remaining front leg.

      Gaited horses move in a number of different rhythmic gaits, changing the order of leg movement or rhythm each leg hits the ground. Two alternative gaits, with variations of both, exist. Running walk is a four-beat gait where the lateral legs move together but hit the ground at different times: right hind, right front, left hind then left fore. Variations include the fox trot, tolt and running walk. Pacing is a two-beat gait similar to the trot. The difference is that instead of the diagonal legs moving together, it's the lateral legs: left hind with left front and right hind with right front. Racking and flying pace are examples of this style.

    Breeds

    • Icelandic horses are known for their tolt.

      Gaited horse breeds originate in all parts of the world, and some of the most popular include American Saddlebreds, which are a popular and athletic breed, reaching high competition in cutting, reining, jumping and dressage. Saddlebreds are three gaited--capable of walk, trot and canter--or five gaited. The additional gaits are four-beat gaits similar to the rack or another called the slow gait.

      Icelandic horses trace their roots to Vikings who settled Iceland, and originated as working horses. Their unique tolt and docile demeanor have made their popularity grow and spread around the world.

      Paso Fino were bred and raised by indigenous Central and South Americans. The breed tends to be smaller, ranging from 13 to 15 hands. Paso Finos have their own distinct gait, including Classic Fino, Corto and Largo, four-beat gaits of varying speeds.

      Standardbreds can pace or trot.

      Tennessee Walking Horses are primarily known for their very smooth and fast running walk. This breed is also capable of pacing, racking and other modifications of the running walk. Tennessee Walking Horses were mostly used on plantations in early America because of their comfort for the rider and stamina to work for long hours.

    Uses

    • Gaited horses are successful in many riding disciplines.

      Gaited horses are successful in many disciplines, from jumping to Western reining. Their comfortable gaits and strides make them most popular in pleasure varieties, and some of the breeds' origins as working horses give them stamina popular among endurance enthusiasts.

    Training

    • Young gaited horses have natural ability, which can be encouraged by training.

      Even though generations of breeding created the propensity for gaiting, these horses still need training, especially if they are to be used in competition. Harness racing disqualifies pacers if they break into a trot, meaning the horses are trained to fall into this traditional gait. Trainers sometimes use hobbles to keep the lateral legs together. Other training involves encouragement in obtaining the alternative gait and correcting if the gait isn't obtained.