Horses are dynamic animals designed for mobility, which is why I believe we can all agree that seeing a horse in action is one of the most attractive things for equestrians. Horses move in a variety of ways and at varying rates. These movement patterns are known as gaits, and horses typically have four walks: walk, trot, jog, and gallop. Still, some horses use their feet and legs in a unique manner, and if you’ve never seen them walk that way before, it may appear rather weird! Gaited horses have extra movement patterns beyond the typical walk/trot/canter. This feature can be inherited and is more common in certain horse breeds.
Most horses can only perform four gaits and require special breeding and training to perform anything other than these four gaits. There are various sorts of ambling gaits in addition to the typical horse gaits. They are often faster than a stroll but slower than a canter. Horses with these gaits were bred to travel across great distances in difficult terrain. The ability of a horse to perform these unusual gaits is primarily hereditary. Although the bulk of them require further training to develop their capabilities, certain breeds are more likely to have these exceptional abilities. Despite the fact that there are more than 20 gaited horses in the world, we have chosen to show you some of the most prominent gaited horses who are famous globally for their beautiful and unique gaits. Continue reading!
Tennessee Walking Horse
The Tennessee Walking Horse was developed to provide Southern gentlemen with a smooth, pleasant ride across ranches and farms in Tennessee’s harsh hills. Tennessee Walking Horses are recognized all over the globe for their incredible gaits and are often seen in the show ring, on tracks, or as a family horse. Although certain Tennessee Walkers can attain the rack, stepping pace, fox-trot, or single-foot gaits, the Tennessee Walker is most known for its running gait. What you probably didn’t realize is that the Tennessee Walkers have two more naturally revealed gaits. The first is a low foot walk, in which the horse touches the ground with each foot at regular intervals. The second is a calm canter, which allows them to be a superb trail riding horse. Some horses are inherently capable of stepping pace and fox-trot maneuvers.
American Saddlebred
The majority of Saddlebreds are known for their high-stepping, spectacular trot, although many are also gaited. They canter, trot, and step like all other horses, however their canter differs somewhat. The “slow gait” and the “rack gait,” both four-beat ambling gaits, are also acceptable. Saddlebreds frequently race in three-gait and five-gait events in competitions in the show ring, dependent on their ability to perform.
Icelandic Horse
Icelandic horses are admired across the world for their five gaits, notably the tölt, a simple, flowing gait in which at least one foot touches the ground. Icelandic horses are native to Iceland and have distinct genetics. It’s tough to find a horse that can compete with the Icelandic Horse. They have long, hairy coats, dense manes, and are extremely robust and lively horses. Iceland horses are some of the horses that have never been bred with any other horse DNA, resulting in a strong breed that can withstand Iceland’s harsh environment with ease.
Standardbred
The standardbred is one of the earliest American breeds, having developed in the New England forests. Even though it is a relatively recent breed in the horse industry, the Standardbred is one of the most popular horse breeds today. They are good, clever, and eager to walk the trail with you or even compete in a quick race, making it a wonderful horse for any horse enthusiast. Many years ago, these horses were prized because their swift pace allowed them to travel long distances, and immigrants began to race them covertly because horse racing was illegal at the time.
Paso Fino
“Paso Fino” means “good stride” in Spanish, and these exquisite gaited horses have some of the most graceful steps in the world. Some of Columbus’ Spanish horses had the ability to stray when he landed in the New World. When crossbred with Andalusian horses, the Paso Fino transforms into an exceptional dance horse. Paso Finos compete in three various types of their basic ambling gait: the paso fino, the paso corto, and the paso largo.
