GAIT DESCRIPTIONS

The Flat Walk (Quarter Horse gait)  is a four-beat lateral gait, similar to the ordinary walk, but smoother, with more speed and reach to the step. The hooves lift and set down at distinct, even intervals. The beat is an even 1-2-3-4 set down in an even cadence. The rear end movement should be smooth and close to the ground without any snap. Each stride should reach forward and slide in as it is set down, over striding the track of the front foot. In a true flat foot walk at least one front foot is touching the ground at all times.

The Slow Saddle Gait  is a four-beat, broken lateral gait. The footfalls for the slow gait are the same as the walk. Each foot rises from the ground and hesitates in the air. The slow gait is restrained, executed with extreme collection and with impulsion from the hind-quarters. The hind legs are placed well underneath the horse and the forehand is elevated.

The Pace  is an even, lateral 2 beat gait. The lateral hooves lift off and set down at the same time. In a pace the front and rear foot are picked up and then set down simultaneously making only one beat. A pacing horse will move its head side to side to counter the motion of its feet.
 

The Running Walk (Tennessee Walking Horse gait) is a four-beat lateral gait during which each foot is picked up and set down in an even cadence. The rear end movement should be smooth and close to the ground without any snap. Each stride should reach forward and slide in as it is set down, over striding the track of the front foot. Suspension occurs only with the front feet, not the hind, which is why the gait is often described as "trotting with the front feet and walking with the hind".
 

The Single Foot  is an intermediate four-beat gait, very near to even in timing. It can be performed at a range of speeds from a relaxed trail speed of 7 to 9 mph, to a ground-eating road gait of 10 to 15 mph, to the racing single-foot of over 20 mph. At the fastest speeds the horse travels with one foot on the ground at a time. Some horses will start single-footing at a road gait speed and others at the racing speed.

While most Single-Footing horses are bred primarily for trail riding, many owners enjoy showing their horses.  The true Single-Footing horse will be found dominating in flat shod Trail Racking, Country Racking and Speed Racking classes at shows around the country.  The Single-Footing horse comes in all shapes, colors and sizes.  What is most important is how those four feet hit the ground.

The Rack 

 is performed at both the slow rack, and the fast rack. In both the rear of the horse provides the most of the forward motion and support while the front end does little pulling. Both have an even four beat cadence without any head shake. In the slow rack the feet are picked up one foot at a time with the front end moving up and down with little forward extension. In the fast rack the gait is performed at great speed with only one foot on the ground at any one time.
 

The Foxtrot  is a broken diagonal gait with a distinctive rhythm that is created by a horse moving its front foot a split second before its opposite rear foot. The diagonal pairs of hooves lift off and move forward together, as in the trot, but the front foot hits the ground slightly before the hind. The gait is described as "walking with the front feet and trotting with the hind".

Click this link for the correct FoxTrotter Gait:  http://www.nabmfth.com/view-foxtrot.htm

Click this link for the correct FoxTrotter Flat Walk:   http://www.nabmfth.com/flat_walk.htm

Click this link for the correct FoxTrotter Canter:  http://www.nabmfth.com/view-canter.htm

The Paso gait is essentially a broken pace gait which is lateral, not diagonal. The sequence of the footfall is hind hoof, same fore hoof, opposite hind hoof, same front hoof. The hind hoof touches the ground a fraction of a second before the front hoof. When performed on a hard surface, a definite 1,2,3,4 (ta-ca-ta-ca) can be heard. Propulsion is primarily from the hind legs yet the motion is absorbed through the back and loins. The croup remains relatively still. These aspects eliminate the jarring effects of a true pace, getting rid of the up and down movement. The Paso Fino can perform this natural gait at three speeds with varying levels of collection.  This gait gains more definition as the horse matures and can be refined through training. However, no special shoeing or artificial aids are necessary to make the Paso Fino gait