Horses are active animals created for movement, that’s why I think we all agree that watching a horse in motion is one of the most beautiful things for equestrians. Horses have different ways of moving at several speeds. These particular movement models are termed gaits, and usually, horses have four walks – walk, trot, jog, and gallop. Still, there are some horses who move their feet and legs in a different way, and if you have never seen them walk that way before, it may look quite unusual! Horses with additional movement patterns exceeding the standard walk/trot/canter are named gaited horses. This trait can be derived and is more prevalent in some specific horse breeds.
Most horses can only do four gaits and demand specific breeding and training to do something beyond these gaits. Besides the standard horse gaits, there are also several types of ambling gaits. They are usually quicker than a walk, but slower than a canter. Horses that do these gaits were developed to easily travel long distances of harsh terrain. A horse’s capacity to achieve these unique gaits is mostly inherited. Particular breeds are more apt to have these special skills, even though the majority of them require extra training to sharpen their skills. Even though there are over 20 gaited horses all over the world, below we have decided to show you some of the most popular gaited horses who are recognized worldwide for their beautiful and unique gaits. Keep reading!
Tennessee Walking Horse
The Tennessee Walking Horse was first created to fit Southern gentlemen a smooth, comfortable ride throughout ranches and farms in the rugged hills of Tennessee. Tennessee Walking Horse is known all over the world for its phenomenal gaits and is usually discovered in the show ring, on tracks, or as a family horse. The Tennessee Walker is famously remembered for its running gait, even though some of them can achieve the rack, stepping pace, fox-trot, or single-foot gaits. What you most likely didn’t know is that the Tennessee Walkers also have two other gaits that are naturally exposed. The first is a low foot walk, which has the horse touch the ground with every foot at a continuous interval. The second one is a relaxed canter, which gives them the opportunity to be an excellent trail riding horse. Some distinct horses can also do stepping pace and fox-trot moves naturally.
American Saddlebred
The majority of Saddlebreds are recognized for their high-stepping and showy trot, but many of them are also gaited. They have the canter, trot, and step just like all the other horses, but their canter has some changes. Two four-beat ambling gaits termed as the “slow gait” and the “rack” are also acceptable. In competitions and the show ring, Saddlebreds often race in three-gait and 5-gait events, this is based on how they can perform.
Icelandic Horse
Icelandic horses are appreciated all over the world for their five gaits, particularly the tölt a simplistic, moving gait of the Icelandic Horse, in which at least one foot reaches the ground. Icelandic horses are local to Iceland and maintain particular bloodlines. It’s difficult to find a horse that is more powerful than the Icelandic Horse. They have lengthy, furry coats, dense manes, and they are also very strong and energetic horses. Iceland horses are some of the horses who have never been bred with any other horse genes and the outcome is a sturdy breed that can survive Iceland’s severe climate without difficulty.
Standardbred
Standardbred is one of the oldest American breeds originated in the woods of New England. The Standardbred is one of the most preferred horse breeds nowadays, even if it is comparatively new in the horse business. They are good, intelligent, and willing to travel the trail with you, or even for a fast race, which makes it an astonishing horse for every horse lover. Many years ago, these horses were valuable because they could travel great distances with their quick pace, and immigrants also began to race them secretly, as horse racing was banned at the time.
Paso Fino
As their name indicated “Paso Fino” means “excellent step”, and these beautiful gaited horses have some of the most elegant steps in the world. When Columbus arrived in the New World, some of his Spanish horses held the capacity to wander. When mixed with Andalusian horses, the Paso Fino converted into an excellent dancing horse. In the competitions, Paso Finos usually present three distinct models of their standard ambling gait: the paso fino, the paso corto, and the paso largo.
