What does gaited horse mean? Gaited Horse Breeds
Introduction to the Gaited Horse Breeds.
Gaited horses have consistently stirred up the interest of general equestrians. They were the most famous horses of the time when horses were considered the only mode of transport. The reason for their demand is their smooth gaits and more accessible rides, due to which people could ride too long distances without being tired, so they are best for people with joint pain issues. Read on to learn what precisely is a gaited horse breed.
A horse that carries out a footfall style outside the typical walk, jog, run, trot, or lope is gaited. Moreover, if a single horse foots, strolls, paces, tolts, or does a running walk or rack, it is considered to be ‘gaited’. The term “gaiting” is used for the single-foot horse, which means one foot remains in touch with the ground and moves each leg independently. When they stay one foot on the basis, it allows the horse to preserve energy for long rides in contrast to trotting.
A gaited horse moves as an ordinary horse does at a walk; it puts each of the four feet down autonomously; the thing that matters is in the upper paces, the following speed for a running horse is a trot, and for a gaited horse it is only a brisk walk. Although gaited horses are naturally gaited, some breeds can be taught to be gaited. In some breeds, the gaiting trait is transmitted to their DNA, which results in naturally gaited babies.
Characteristics
They are solid and sensible and don’t demand too much from their riders. Gaited horses have extraordinary stamina and tolerance. Some gaited horses have their heads laid on their shoulders instead of their back. They are appraised for pleasure riding.
What makes them Gaited Horses?
Research conducted in 2012 showed that the ambling gaits of these horses are because of a dominant gene known as DMRT3. This gene deals with the circuits of neurons that run along the spinal cord and takes part in limb movement.
Do you Want to Know About Gaited Horse Breeds?
There are a total of around 350 breeds of horses, and approximately only 30 are naturally gaited breeds. Some of the most popular gaited horse breeds have been mentioned below;
American Saddlebred:
This horse breed belongs to the United States. This is an elegant and athletic breed and an excellent pick for beginners. Long-arched necks typify these horses, along with short and strong backs. High-stepping action is included in its prominent features. They brighten any place with their appealing looks. The stylish American Saddlebred horses are 15-17 hands tall and generally used in parades. Racking is a lateral gait included in their five gaits.
Peruvian Paso:
Peruvian horse is referred to as a kind of light saddle horse famous for its hassle-free ride and distinguished carriage. This breed has been nominated as a cultural heritage breed of Peru. They have a deep chest and low tail movement. Their size is 14-15 hands. They are docile and suitable for those riders who want to learn horse riding. Peruvian Paso is distinguished by Paso llano, the name of its natural lateral gait. These horses are used for endurance and pleasure rides and horse shows.
Icelandic horses:
This horse breed evolved in Iceland. They are smaller in size than other horse breeds, just 12-14 hands tall, even sometimes they are called ponies, but they are not ponies indeed. Icelandic horses are beautiful creatures. This is quite a muscular breed that can withstand harsh weather conditions. Moreover, they are long-lived horses. They have long backs and woolly fur. The most notable feature of this breed is its natural five gaits which are only present in this breed of horses.
Tennessee walking horse:
This horse breed of gaited horses comes with a distinctive four-beat running walk and is also known as “walkers”. They are considered the official horses of the state. Tennessee walking horses are said to be the most famous breed in North America and are popular riding horses for their calm temperament and smooth gait. This breed had been grown with the intention of riding and farm work. They have long heads and straight body shapes.
Marwari Horse:
This is a breed of ancient royal horses belonging to the Marwar region located in Rajasthan, India. It is also called the Malani horse breed. These horses were used in wars for hundreds of years. They are the best for competitive dressage and are also known as “Polo Horses”. They have distinctive sickle-shaped ears, glowing nostrils, arched necks, beautiful eyes with long lashes, and tiny hooves. They are limited in number outside India.
Appaloosa Horse:
It is an American breed of horses initially known as “Palouse horses”, a name the settlers gave. This breed is famous for colourful and spotty coats. They have a similar running walk to a Tennessee walking horse. This breed has an extensive range of body types derived from the impact of different breeds in its history. They are 14.2-16 hands tall.
Paso Fino:
This is a naturally gaited horse breed of gentle horses with a passive temperament. These horses had been imported from Spain and brought to the Caribbean. They are known for their smooth gait and are commonly used for trail riding. However, they are not suitable for learners because of forwarding rides. The Paso Fino horse is very attached to its master. They are long-living horses with a life span of 30 years. It is significant to know that some Paso fino horses live up to 40 years.
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse:
This breed is a kind of new horse breed that belongs to Kentucky, a state in the United States. These horses are also known as “kids horses” as they have a gentle personality. They have flat facial figures and are even-tempered. Their natural gait is called a rack which is a four-beat gait. It is very favourable for those riders who have to travel long distances as a rider can sit static on it even at the fastest speed. They can live up to 40 years.
Morgan Horses:
These horses are known as one of the oldest horse breeds that evolved in the US. Morgan horses are pretty intelligent and kind, with outstanding compatibility and structure. They are great for beginner riders. They contain a thick mane, short head, and a thick tail with straight and strong legs, yet they are considered stylish horses. Morgans live for a more extended period if they are well looked after.
American Standardbred:
This gaited horse breed evolved in North America and is known worldwide. These horses are considered a leader in harness races. However, this breed is also best for riding as they are very adaptable. American Standardbred horses are pretty healthy and efficient and have excellent stamina to run for a long time. Pacing and trotting are the two unique gaits of this breed.
Rocky Mountain Horses:
This horse breed was developed in the US in the Appalachian Mountains rather than the rocky mountains. These horses are easy-going and are recognized for their gentleness and calm temperament. They come in solid colours. They are sure-footed and have a four-beat gait. Rocky Mountain horses are best for competitive riding. However, they can’t learn trotting or cantering.
Aegidienberger Horse:
This breed of gaited horses resulted from crossbreeding between the Peruvian Paso and Icelandic horses in Aegidienberg, Germany, in the late 20th century. So, they are known as Aegidienberger horses and were acknowledged as a gaited breed in 1994.
This is a small, gaited horse breed but relatively more considerable than those of Icelandics. These horses have great stamina, like Icelandic horses, with an additional height advantage for their buyers. Moreover, they can perform tölt naturally, like Icelandics, which makes them one of the best riding partners.
Campeiro Horses:
This breed was declined by Spanish and Portuguese stock horses and brought to Brazil in the 16th century. Campeiro is a breed of relatively small and strong horses. These horses are also included in gaited horse breeds because of their ambling gait. However, they have a faster gait than the trot. These horses have wide muscular chests with arched backs.
Brazilian farmers now breed Campeiro horses to use them in various farm activities. They are also good riding partners and are also used in competitions.
Campolina Horses:
Campolina breed was named after its breeder “Cassiano Campolina”. He was a farmer by profession and crossbred a mare of Barb blood with an Andalusian horse in 1870 on his farm. This giant breed of three-gaited breeds of common horses in Brazil was developed for farm activities, sports, and other riding purposes. These horses have a size of 15-16 hands and are known for their distinctive convex nose. The horses of this breed are found in many colours.
Florida Cracker Horse:
This breed of gaited horses originated in Florida, the USA, while tracks down its ancestry to Spanish horses, which were imported to Florida in the 1500s. These saddle horses are also known as “Cracker horses”. Additionally, these horses have many other names. They are powerful and small compared to other horses ranging from 13.2 – 15.2 hands while 700 to 1000 pounds in weighing.
“Florida Cracker Horses were considered the first livestock of Florida. They were pretty helpful in fieldwork. “
Kathiawari Horse:
This is a sturdy Indian gaited horse breed that belonged to Kathiawar Gujarat, a region located in Western India so it can withstand harsh environments. This breed got its name from this region. Most of the horses of the Kathiawari breed are offspring of the royal horses.
Kathiawari horses were reproduced as war horses of the desert because of their strength and endurance for long distances on rugged terrain. They come with inward bend ears, short backs, small heads, and various colours except for black.
Mangalarga Marchador:
This breed of gaited horses belongs to Brazil and is recognized as the national horse of Brazil. It is commonly called a Brazilian horse and is immensely famous for its unique gaits, making it the best riding partner for long days. Additionally, this versatile breed has notable significance in the economy of Brazil. Other than Brazil, its breeders are found in the USA. It is one of the innumerable breeds of gaited horses worldwide and is even considered an ideal family horse.
Messara Horse:
They are also known as Cretan Horses, found on Crete Island, located in Greece. The people of Crete named it Messara Horses, too, because they initially originated in the Messara Plain of Crete. This is the earliest breed of gaited horses based in Greece and is believed to be the most former breed of horses across Europe.
They are quite sturdy horses with great stamina and endurance to withstand the Crete climate. However, this ancient breed of horses is almost extinct, even though just 100 horses are left.
Missouri Fox Trotter:
This breed was produced by habitants of the Ozark Mountains and took the name of its affiliated state, “Missouri”, in the US. These horses quickly evolved into gaited horses because of their smooth gait and calm temperament. Their distinctive gait is “Fox Trot”, which means the horse uses its front feet to walk and uses its rear feet to trot. The breed took its name, “Missouri Fox Trotter”, from this characteristic. Moreover, this horse is also suitable for children and beginners of any age.
Nordestino Horses:
These are the first horses domesticated to the northeast of Brazil, also known as Northeastern horses. They had been developed from the horses that the habitants of the Portuguese imported. The horses of this breed can withstand harsh hot climates and are habitual of feeding scarce water and low-quality plants.
This breed is also about to go extinct because people are moving to the advanced breeds of horses and don’t regard them anymore. These horses are used in farm work today.
North American Single-Footing Horse:
This breed originated in the Southern US and is recognized distinctively among all other gaited horses because of its lightweight and “single foot” four-beat gait. Single foot means the horse raises and puts down each foot separately. This also falls under the ambling gait category. They are also known as just “Single footing horses”.
They are bred, developed, and used by trail travellers and can execute other peasant riding gaits too. They possess good confirmation and appealing looks.
Pampa Horse:
This breed belongs to Brazil and integrates the structural characteristics of other Brazilian gaited horses. The pampa horse was derived from the animals imported to South America in the 16th century. They are known for the white pattern on their coats. They come with large eyes and a well-muscular body. Pampa horses are pretty obedient and have a willing temperament. They are famous for being used in pleasure riding, sports, and working activities.
Racking Horse:
This horse breed was developed from Tennessee Walking Horse and belonged to the US. Racking horse breeders made their registry established in 1971 by the Horse Breeders Association of America. They are known for their distinctive single-foot four-beat gait. This breed took its name from the walk they perform, called “racking”. Racking is included in one of the ambling gaits. The fast Racking horses can walk smoothly and slowly like Tennessee Walking horses and go as fast as you want.
Spotted Saddle Horse:
This breed came into existence in the United States by crossbreeding of Spanish-American pinto with a gaited horse, and the outcome was a colourful spotted saddle horse with a smooth ambling gait. These horses are suitable for pleasure, show-ring, and trail riding. They have big hearts, attractive appearances, and kind temperaments, which is the reason for their distinction. Additionally, they are recognized only by the pinto pattern on their coats and are best suited for all age levels.
Walkaloosa Horses:
Walkaloosa horse is a purely US breed developed by crossbreeding an Appaloosa and any other type of gaited horse like Paso Fino. They are also called Appaloosa Horses and are known for their ambling gait in addition to the trot with Appaloosa colouring and spotted pattern. Their smooth speed and calm temperament make them the best riding partner. Moreover, they are also used in dressage and competitions. Their size range is 14-15.2 hands. The Walkaloosa Horse Association was established in 1983.
Facts About Gaited Horse Breeds.
A gaited horse is more competent than a non-gaited horse because non-gaited horses waste their energy in confronting gravity.
- These horses give a smooth ride because of this efficiency.
- Each gaited horse breed has an outstanding gait for which they are best acclaimed.
- The speed of each horse breed is different at different gaits. For example, their running walk speed is 15mph.
- Gaited horses generally show a calm temperament and offer very comfortable rides.
- The ambling gait of gaited horses is a genetic trait.
What are the Benefits of Hoof Boots for a Gaited Horse?
The hoof boots provide excellent safety to gaited horses. But before choosing a hoof boot, you always need to make sure that your horse is relaxed, active, and comfortable at the same time. These shoes have additional shock-absorbing pads to compete against friction and avert rubbing. They are made of flexible material that provides protection on all terrains and makes your horse feel comfortable.
There are several hoof boots of various brands, among which scoot boots are the best suited for gaited horses. They are very lightweight boots and have good resistance. So they don’t interrupt any gait. Thus, the scoot boots are excellent for trail rides.
Conclusion
To summarise, gaited horses are defined by unique ambling gaits that are natural to the breed. Their ambling gaits are more speedy than a walk but slower and steady than a canter. Gaited horse trainers may train non-gaited horses, but natural and artificially introduced gaits will differ. We have tried to mention all popular gaited horse breeds and some information about them. We hope you will like this informative article and will try to find more gaited species across the world.