In This Chapter
- Understanding the four-beat gait
- Exploring gaited horse breeds
- Discovering the correct riding position
Most horses perform the
traditional three gaits — walk, trot or jog, and canter or lope. However, a
select group of horses have one or more gaits that they use in addition to or
as a substitute for the trot or jog. In the horse world, these skilled steppers
are called gaited horses.
In this chapter, I explain what a
gaited horse does and why so many people love these types of horses. I also
cover some of the breeds of gaited horses and tell you the basics of how to
ride one of these special animals.
Defining the Four-Beat Gait
Gaited horses come in different
breeds, and each gaited breed has a distinct way of moving that sets it apart
(see the next section for info on breeds). But no matter what the breed, this
special way of stepping is known as a four-beat gait. A four-beat gait means
that each leg hits the ground at a different time.
Four-beat gaits usually replace
the trot or jog. With trotting or jogging, which are two-beat gaits, two of the
horse’s legs hit the ground at the same time (see Chapter Bumping
Up Your Skills with the Jog or Trot). If you count
beats when you’re riding a horse who’s trotting or jogging, you count “one-two,
one-two.” When riding a gaited horse, however, you find yourself counting,
“One-two-three-four, one-two-three-four.”
The horse in Figure 20-1 shows
the footfalls associated with the four-beat gait:
- Figure 20-1a shows the horse with two legs on one side on the ground at the same time.
- Figure 20-1b shows a subsequent footfall, with the left foreleg on the ground and other legs in the air.
- Figure 20-1c depicts the horse with a footfall that follows, with the right hind leg on the ground.
- Then the right foreleg and right hind leg strike the ground (not shown).
Figure 20-1: Each of a gaited
horse’s legs hits the ground at a different time.
The four-beat gait is incredibly
comfortable to ride. Instead of the jarring bounce of the trot or jog, the
four-beat gait is often as smooth as silk. More and more adult riders, after
learning to ride on a non-gaited horse, are choosing gaited horses over
“trotting horses” because gaited horses are easier on the human body. People
can ride gaited horses for hours on end with little effect on the bones and
joints of the rider, which is a huge bonus for those of us who are starting to
feel our age.
Tip
If you want to discover how to ride a gaited horse, seek out an instructor or trainer who specializes in this type of riding. Most gaited-horse trainers focus on a particular breed, which also determines the riding discipline. Check out Chapter School’s in Session: Taking Riding Lessons for more information on finding a riding instructor or trainer.
Picking up the pace, a two-beat gait
Most gaited horses perform a four-beat gait, which
means their legs each hit the ground independently, but some gaited breeds,
such as the Icelandic Horse and the rare Tiger Horse, also have a two-beat
gait called the pace. Some Standardbred racehorses who pull sulkies (two-wheeled
carts) on the racetrack also perform the pace.
If you watch a horse pace, you see that the legs on
both sides of the horse move in unison. When a horse is pacing, she can go
very fast. In fact, pacers on the racetrack can get up to speeds of nearly 40
mph. However, pacing isn’t as comfortable as a four-beat gait, so in most gaited
breeds, it’s not preferred.
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Checking Out Breeds Who Display Fancy Footwork
Gaited breeds come in a variety
of shapes, sizes, and colors. Equine historians agree, however, that most of
these breeds come from a now-extinct horse called the Spanish Jennet, which
Spanish Conquistadors brought to the New World in the 1500s. The Spanish Jennet
passed along its genes to a variety of gaited breeds. Some gaited horses are
born knowing how to perform the gaits almost perfectly; others need training to
hone their special gaits.
Each breed of gaited horse has a
distinct style of four-beat gait. The primary differences lie in the exact
timing of the footfalls and the speed of each gait. Here are some of the gaited
breeds most known in the United States:
- American Saddlebred: This breed found popularity in the Southern United States during the 1700s and 1800s. American Saddlebreds perform the slow gait and the rack. Western and saddle seat are the two most popular disciplines for this horse.
- Colonial Spanish Horse (some individuals): The horse from which all North and South American breeds descended, the rare Colonial Spanish Horse (also known as the Spanish Mustang) was brought to the New World by the Spaniards. Because of its close relation to the Spanish Jennet, a good number of Colonial Spanish Horses possess gaits found in other gaited breeds. These include the running walk, single foot, amble, pace, and paso gaits. You can ride these horses in any discipline.
- Icelandic Horse: Developed in Iceland and believed to go back to the horses of the Vikings, the Icelandic horse is small in stature but big in gait. Icelandics perform the flying pace and the tolt, both four-beat gaits. Icelandics can be ridden any style, although many Iceland aficionados prefer to use genuine Iceland saddles, which are similar to endurance saddles (Chapter Even More Riding Styles and Activities discusses endurance riding).
- Missouri Fox Trotter: As the name suggests, this breed was developed in Missouri during the 1800s. Traditionally a Western breed, the Missouri Fox Trotter performs the flat walk and fox trot (though this horse isn’t nearly as good at the tango or waltz). Western is the most popular discipline for this breed.
- Paso Fino: Hailing from the country of Columbia, the Paso Fino has also found considerable popularity in the U.S. over recent decades. The Paso Fino is known for its paso fino, paso corto, and paso largo four-beat gaits.
- Peruvian Paso: Created by Peruvian plantation owners over several centuries, this breed has gained increasing popularity in North America over the years. The Peruvian Paso’s four-beat gaits are the paso llano, sobreandando, and huachano. In the show ring, the Peruvian Paso wears a Peruvian saddle (similar to an endurance saddle). On the trail, Western and endurance saddles are popular choices for this breed.
- Rocky Mountain Horse: Descended from a single stallion brought to Kentucky from parts unknown sometime in the 1800s, the Rocky Mountain Horse was officially recognized in 1986. Members of this breed perform a single-foot gait or a rack. They’re most often ridden in Western saddles.
- Tennessee Walking Horse: Developed in the Deep South during the 1700s, this popular gaited horse performs the flat walk and the faster running walk. Both are very smooth. Tennessee Walking Horses are often ridden Western and saddle seat.
Tack it up: Gear for the gaited horse
Gaited horses are distinct from non-gaited horses,
so what kind of tack do you ride them in? The answer depends mostly on the
breed. Each breed of gaited horse has tradition behind it that typically
dictates the style of saddle and bridle you should use. For example, the Peruvian
Paso is ridden in a traditional Peruvian saddle that’s unique among saddles.
The Saddlebred is often ridden in a saddle seat saddle, its traditional tack
for centuries. (See Chapter Even
More Riding Styles and Activities for more about saddle seat riding.)
That said, you can ride any of the gaited breeds in
Western or English saddles, although saddles that allow you to sit deep —
Western, dressage, and endurance — are the most comfortable on a gaited
horse.
In most cases, gaited horses are ridden with leverage
bits; these bits have shanks, whether long or short, that help keep the
horse’s nose tipped down as she gaits. Saddlebreds are often ridden with a
double-bridle, which features both a leverage curb bit and a snaffle bit.
(See Chapter Getting
a Heads-Up on Bridles for illustrations of both curb and snaffle bits.) The horse
has both of these bits in her mouth at the same time, and each bit performs a
different function in maintaining the horse’s head carriage.
The type of tack you use on a gaited horse depends
on her breed and the type of riding you want to do, whether it be show or
casual trail riding. An experienced gaited-horse trainer or instructor can
help you decide on the best tack for your particular gaited horse.
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Riding a Gaited Horse
Because gaited horses move so differently from other horses,
you have to ride them in a different way. Many people believe these horses are
easier to ride than trotting horses simply because they have a smoother way of
going. However, you still need to know how to sit and control the horse to get
the wonderful gait your horse is capable of performing; I explain what to do in
the following sections.
Figure 20-2 shows the overall position for riding a gaited
horse. Most of these breeds were developed for riding over long distances, so
the gaits are most comfortable if you sit back and relax.
Positioning your body
Remember
When riding a gaited horse of any breed, you have to relax. You want a soft, relaxed back and should sit very deep in the saddle. Unlike in Western and English riding, your rib cage should be high for gaited riding, and you should have no hollow in your back at all (refer to Figure 20-2).
Although this position would be uncomfortable, if not
difficult, to ride at the trot, this position is easy to maintain because
gaited horses are so smooth when performing their gaits.
Figure 20-2: Riding a gaited horse, such as this Tennessee
Walking Horse, calls for a deep seat, a lifted rib cage, and relaxed muscles.
Holding the reins
In order for a gaited horse to
maintain her gait, she must be collected (carefully controlled).
Therefore, you need to have constant contact with the horse’s mouth through the
reins. If you “throw away the reins” by making them too loose, your gaited
horse won’t be able to maintain her gait.
Remember
To keep your horse in gait, hold the reins taut without pulling too hard on the horse. Maintaining the proper tension takes practice, so try holding your hands higher than your elbow, making a slight V-angle. You don’t want a straight elbow.
Your wrists should be relaxed as
you ride, and your hands should be held over the horse’s withers (refer to
Figure 20-2). If you’re riding in a Western saddle, you can use the horn as a
guide as to where the withers are located.
As you advance in your riding,
your instructor or trainer may show you how to influence the horse’s head
carriage using the reins.
Putting your legs in position
Part of keeping a gaited horse in
control is maintaining contact with the horse’s sides with your legs. On the
other hand, you don’t want to squeeze the horse like a tube of toothpaste. Keep
your legs relaxed but touching the horse.
Your stirrups should be set long,
similar to their position in Western riding, regardless of the type of saddle
you’re using (see Chapter Working
from the Ground, Saddling, and Bridling for details on Western stirrup length). Keep the
balls of your feet in the stirrups, with your heels down (refer to Figure
20-2). Your legs should lie just behind the cinch, although this position may
vary, depending on which gait you’re asking for (which in turn depends on the
breed you’re riding — see the earlier section “Checking Out Breeds Who Display
Fancy Footwork”). Your instructor can help you determine the correct stirrup
length.
Moving with the gaited horse
Remember
Moving with the horse is the best part of riding a gaited horse. All you need to do is sit deep and relax, allowing your body to move with the gentle rhythm of the horse’s motion. Whatever you do, don’t tense up, which can cause you to resist the movement and bounce in the saddle. Riding a gaited horse is all about smoothness, so relax and let the horse make you feel like you’re floating on air.
To help yourself stay relaxed,
breathe deeply and be conscious of your muscles. Pretend you’re floating in a
swimming pool. Let all tension slip away.
by Audrey Pavia with Shannon Sand
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