APPENDIX – GAITS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS
GAITS – Paso Fino (from PFHA rule book)
Gait: The gait of the Paso Fino horse is totally natural and normally exhibited from birth. It is an evenly
spaced, four-beat lateral gait with each foot contacting the ground independently in a regular sequence at
precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm.
Executed perfectly, the four hoof beats are absolutely even in both cadence and impact. Footfall is in the
same sequence as a natural equine walk, i.e., left rear, left fore, right rear, right fore. Propulsion is primarily
from the hind limbs and the horse’s motion is absorbed in its back and loins, resulting in unequaled
smoothness and comfort for the rider. The Paso Fino gait is performed at three (3) forward speeds and with
varying degrees of collection. In all speeds of the gait, the rider should appear virtually motionless in the
saddle and there should be no perceptible up and down motion of the horse’s croup. (See Chapter Three for
complete description of gaits.)
Classic Fino: Forward speed is very slow, and the footfall is extremely rapid while the steps and extension
are exceedingly short. This gait is to be executed fully collected.
Paso Corto: Forward speed is moderate, ground covering but unhurried, executed with medium extension
and stride. The degree of collection desired varies with class requirements.
Paso Largo: The fastest speed of the gait. The largo is executed with a longer extension and stride.
Forward speed varies with the individual horse, since each horse should attain its top speed in harmony
with its own natural stride and cadence. The degree of collection desired varies with class requirements.
The Paso Fino can execute other gaits natural to horses in addition to the Paso Fino gait.
Walk: Smooth, steady, evenly spaced four-beat gait.
Lope: True three-beat gait, slow, cadenced, smooth, straight on both leads, with no tendency to mix gaits.
Canter: True three-beat gait, straight on both leads, smooth and unhurried with no tendency to mix gaits.
GAITS – Racking Horse (from the Racking Horse web site)
The Racking Horse is attractive and gracefully built with a long sloping neck, full flanks, well boned,
smooth legs, and finely textured hair. The Racking Horse is considered a "light" horse in comparison with
other breeds, averaging 15.2 hands high (a "hand" is considered to be four inches) and weighing 1,000
pounds. Colors may be black, bay, sorrel, chestnut, brown, gray, yellow, cremello, buckskin, dun,
palomino, roan, champagne, and even spotted.
The "rack" of the Racking Horse is a bi-lateral four-beat gait which is neither a pace nor a trot. It is
often called a "single-foot" because only one foot strikes the ground at a time. The Racking Horse comes
by this gait as naturally as walking or striking a bold trot comes to other breeds. He is not to be confused
with other breeds, with which the "rack" is an artificially achieved gait resulting from special
training. Though he may be shown under saddle, in hand or in harness, and may be flat shod or shown with
pads, he still performs the smooth, collected gait which made him famous as a pleasure mount.
GAITS – Missouri Fox Trotter (from MFTHBA website)
The fox trot is a broken diagonal gait performed by walking in front and trotting behind, with reach in each
stride. The front hoof of the diagonal pair strikes the ground just before the rear hoof, and one front hoof is
on the ground at all times in a correct foxtrot.
The Fox Trotting Horse is not a high stepping horse, but an extremely sure-footed one, and because of the
sliding action of the rear feet rather than the hard step of other breeds the rider experiences little jarring
action and is quite comfortable in the saddle for long periods of time.
The head and tail are slightly elevated, giving the horse a graceful carriage, and the rhythmic beat of the
hooves along with the nodding action of the head present an appearance of relaxation and poise. The
movement should be smooth and consistent with no noticeable up and down motion.
The ideal characteristics of the fox trotting horse shall be that the animal will travel in a collected manner
with animation, rhythm and style. In each of the gaits, remember “Style and Grace, It’s Not a Race!”.
Fox Trot:
The fox trot has a motion and rhythm that carries from the nose through the tail. The fox trot gait will be
performed in a stylish collected manner by walking in front and trotting behind with striding reach, both
front and rear. There should not be excessive animation, nor should there be climbing or exaggerated knee
motion in the front legs. The back feet will exhibit a sliding action resulting from the horse breaking at the
hocks. The horse will disfigure or overstep his track, and shall travel straight on all four legs. The head will
be carried slightly elevated, with rhythmic motion in time with the movement of the rear feet. The tail will
be carried naturally, and should emphasize the rhythm of the gait. The exceptional rhythm of the fox
trotting horse begins at the tip of the nose with the characteristic headshake and continues back through the
ripple of the tail.
Flat Foot Walk:
The flat foot walk shall be a flat, four beat gait performed in a square, stylish manner. The gait is to be
accomplished with animation, overstriding the front track. There is to be reach in each stride, front and rear.
A four beat gait is distinctly different from the fox trot which has a broken rhythm. When correctly
performing the flat foot walk, you will hear a steady, equal four beat cadence produced by the hooves, the
head shake will be more animated than in the fox trot, and the rider will be getting a smooth ride.
Canter:
The canter is a three beat gait and shall be performed in a straight, collected manner with the head and tail
slightly elevated. The horse shall travel with a forward rolling motion while on the correct lead, both front
and rear. The three-beat gait is performed with a rocking motion, starting from the outside rear foot, then to
the inside rear-outside front combination, and then to the inside front foot. The head should be at its lowest
point when the inside front foot is on the ground. The canter is not a fast moving gait, and the horse should
appear relaxed and move freely.
Overview:
The exhibition of the horse in the show ring should present the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse performing the
gaits in the proper manner. While a degree of latitude may be given in the show arena, the correctness of
the gaits and the equitation and comfort of the rider is necessary to showcase our great horse to its best
advantage
GAITS – Tennessee Walking Horse (from TWHEBA website)
The Tennessee Walking Horse performs three distinct gaits: the flat foot walk, running walk, and canter.
These three are the gaits for which the Tennessee Walking Horse is famous, with the running walk being an
inherited, natural gait unique to this breed. Many Tennessee Walking Horses are able to perform the rack,
stepping pace, fox-trot, single-foot and other variations of the famous running walk. While not desirable in
the show ring, the above mentioned gaits are smooth, easy, trail riding gaits.
The Flat Walk is a brisk, long-reaching walk that can cover from four to eight miles an hour. This is a four
cornered gait with each of the horse's feet hitting the ground separately at regular intervals. The horse will
glide over the track left by the front foot with his hind foot: right rear over right front, left rear over left
front. The action of the back foot slipping over the front track is known as overstride. Overstride is unique
to the walking horse breed. The hock should show only forward motion; vertical hock action is highly
undesirable. A Tennessee Walking Horse will nod its head in rhythm with the cadence of its feet. This
nodding head motion, along with overstride, are two features that are unique to the Tennessee Walking
Horse. This distinctive head motion along with overstride are both things the judge should take into
consideration when judging a Tennessee Walking Horse.
The Running Walk is the gait for which the walking horse is most noted. This extra-smooth, gliding gait is
basically the same as the flat walk with a noticeable difference in the rate of speed between the two gaits.
Proper form should never be sacrificed for excessive speed in a good running walk. The breed can travel 10
to 20 miles per hour at this gait. As the speed is increased, the horse over-steps the front track with the back
by a distance of six to eighteen inches. The more "stride" the horse has, the better "walker" it is considered
to be. It is this motion that gives the rider a feeling of gliding through the air as if propelled by some
powerful but smooth-running machine. The running walk is a smooth, easy gait for both horse and rider. A
true Tennessee Walking Horse will continue to nod while performing the running walk.
The third gait is The Canter. The canter is performed in much the same way as other breeds, but the
walking horse seems to have a more relaxed way of performing this gait. The canter is a forward movement
performed in a diagonal manner to the right or to the left. On the right lead, the horse should start the gait in
this order: left hind, right hind and left fore together, then right fore. The footfall for the left lead is right
hind, left hind and right fore, then left fore. When performed in a ring, the animal should lead his canter
with the foreleg to the inside of the ring. In the canter, the horse gives one the abundance of ease with lots
of spring and rhythm, with proper rise and fall to afford a thrill from sitting in the saddle. Thus, the canter
lifts the front end giving an easy rise and fall motion much like a rocking chair. This is often referred to as
the "rocking-chair" gait.
GAITS – Icelandic Horse (from Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clean_horse.jpgThe Icelandic is a five-gaited breed known for its
sure-footedness and ability to cross rough terrain. In addition to the typical gaits of walk, trot and canter, it
performs an ambling gait known as the tölt. This gait is known for its explosive acceleration and speed, but
is also comfortable and ground-covering.[3] The tölt is a four-beat lateral ambling gait. There is a lot of
variation within the gait among individual horses, being sometimes compared to the rack of the Saddlebred,
the largo of the Paso Fino, or the running walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse. The footfall pattern is the
same as the walk (left hind, left front, right hind, right front), but differs from the walk in that it can be
performed at a large variety of speeds, from the speed of a typical fast walk up to the speed of a normal
canter. Some Icelandic horses prefer to tölt, while others prefer the trotting gait; correct training can
improve weak gaits, but the tölt is a natural gait present from birth.
GAITS – Spotted Saddle Horse (from the SSHBEA web site)
The Spotted Saddle Horse performs the show walk, show gait, and canter. These three are the gaits for
which the Spotted Saddle Horse is famous, with the show gait being an inherited naturally smooth gait
unique to this breed.
The Spotted Saddle horse is able to perform the rack, stepping pace, fox-trot, single-foot and other
variations of the intermediate gait.
The flat walk is a brisk, long-reaching walk that can cover from 4-8 miles an hour. This is a four cornered
gait with each of the horse's feet hitting the ground separately at regular intervals.
The show gait is the intermediate gait for the Spotted Saddle Horse. This extra-smooth gliding gait is
basically the same as the flat walk with a marked increase in speed. This breed can travel 10-20 miles per
hour at this gait. This gives the rider a feeling as if he or she were gliding through the air propelled by some
powerful but smooth-running machine. The show gait or saddle gait is a smooth, easy gait for both horse
and rider.
The canter is a forward movement performed in a diagonal manner to the right or to the left. On the right
lead, the horse should start the gait in this order: left hind, right hind and left fore together - then right fore.
The order for the left lead is: right hind, left hind and right fore, then left fore. When performed in a ring,
the animal should lead his canter with the fore leg to the inside of the ring. In the canter the horse gives one
the abundance of ease with lots of spring and rhythm, with the proper rise and fall to afford a thrill from
sitting in the saddle. This is often referred to as the "rocking chair-gait".
The Spotted Saddle Horse comes in a variety of colors and exhibits two main color patterns, tobiano and
overo. No preference should be shown in judging as to color combinations. No color combination or
pattern should be preferred over any other color combination and/or pattern. Of course, individuals will
always have preferences and favorite colors and combinations; however, if the horse is registered with the
Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, then that horse's color combination has been
approved, and should be judged on an equal basis with the other entries. The multitude of pattern and color
combinations are what make the Spotted Saddle Horse different, eye catching and desirable. The chrome
edition of the equine world is a much sought after horse.