SaddleHorseshowcase.com

Pleasure Horse

Neoprene Lined Nylon Horse Halter-Pleasure Horse Logo Noseband and Cheeks, BLACK $18.52

Neoprene Lined Nylon Horse Halter-Pleasure Horse Logo Noseband and Cheeks, BLUE $18.52

Neoprene Lined Nylon Horse Halter-Pleasure Horse Logo Noseband and Cheeks, GREEN $18.52

Neoprene Lined Nylon Horse Halter-Pleasure Horse Logo Noseband and Cheeks, PINK $18.52

Neoprene Lined Nylon Horse Halter-Pleasure Horse Logo Noseband and Cheeks, PURPL $18.52

Neoprene Lined Nylon Horse Halter-Pleasure Horse Logo Noseband and Cheeks, RED $19.50

15″ WESTERN CORDURA HORSE TRAIL BARREL PLEASURE PINK SADDLE TACK COMBO SD015 $339.99

17″ WESTERN CORDURA HORSE TRAIL BARREL PLEASURE PINK SADDLE TACK COMBO SD017 $339.99

BUFFALO 16″ WESTERN ROPING PLEASURE TRAIL HORSE SADDLE MEDIUM OIL- A GREAT BUY! $395.99

DOUBLE T WESTERN HORSE TRAIL PLEASURE SADDLE 16″ $229.99

DOUBLE T WESTERN HORSE TRAIL PLEASURE SADDLE 16″ $229.99

DOUBLE T WESTERN HORSE TRAIL PLEASURE SADDLE SET 16″ $299.99

DOUBLE T WESTERN GAITED HORSE PLEASURE TRAIL SADDLE 16″ $299.99

DOUBLE T WESTERN HORSE TRAIL PLEASURE SADDLE 16″ $279.99

NEW 12 YOUTH KIDS WESTERN PONY SMALL HORSE PLEASURE TRAIL LEATHER SADDLE TACK $249.99

DOUBLE T WESTERN HORSE SHOW PLEASURE SADDLE 16″ $399.99

Plus Size by WannaGoSlow, Horsemanship, Pleasure, Horse Show Rail Shirt $91.00

Tan Basket WesternTrail and Pleasure Horse saddle SADDLE 16 $229.99

NEW 13 YOUTH KIDS WESTERN PONY SMALL HORSE PLEASURE TRAIL LEATHER SADDLE TACK $249.99

New American Leather Barrel Racing Trail Pleasure Horse Saddle 16 COS176 $535.17

Cherry WesternTrail and Pleasure Horse saddle SOFTY SEAT 16 $275.00

New FOS187 Western Barrel Racing Trail Pleasure Horse Saddle 15 $435.22

New FOS188 Western Barrel Racing Trail Pleasure Horse Saddle 14 $435.24

New FOS189 Western Barrel Racing Trail Pleasure Horse Saddle 15 $435.26

New FOS190 Western Barrel Racing Trail Pleasure Horse Saddle 15 $435.27

Used horse tack Pulling collar Y cut breast collar roping trail barrel pleasure $49.95

ENDURANCE horse SADDLE pleasure TRAIL -WIDE- australian KIMBERLEY western RIDE $210.00

DOUBLE T – WESTERN GAITED HORSE PLEASURE / TRAIL SADDLE $349.99

Nylon Horse Halter With Pleasure Horse & Rider Overlay 6 Colors NEW Horse Tack!! $15.99

Heartland Horse Rail Western Pleasure Show Halter Clothes Jacket Shirt Large $63.59

What Are Gaited Horses

It would be safe to say that as long as there have been gaited horses there has been confusion as to what the 4-beat lateral gait is. What does the term “gaited horse,” mean? All actions of the horse are called gaits. The walk, trot, lope, canter and gallop are all gaits. The gaited horse has an additional gait. This gait is a smooth, non-jarring action of the hors’s leg.   The “lateral gait refers to the legs on one side 9lateral) moving together, as opposed to the “diagonal gait” where opposite legs work together. The trot is an example of a diagonal gait. However, in some gaits, such as the fox trot, the action is diagonal but it is still a 4-beat gait, making this gait smoother than the 2-beat gait. A 4-beat gait is when each foot hits the ground independently

Much of this confusion occurs in trying to define the gaits and in trying to judge them. The names of the gaits are used loosely and interchangeably. Different breed association call the gaits by different names. It is difficult to describe accurately the gait, because it is difficult to see what the horse is doing with each foot as he moves along. The gait will have a variety of looks, depending on collection, speed, length of stride, skill of horse and rider, as well as the breed of horse. It is not the general appearance of the horse in action that determines the gait but the specific pattern of footfall, as well as the cadence that defines the gait.    The classy-looking fast moving horse often overshadows a gentle quiet horse performing his gait well. Often the classy horse will determine the standards of the breed, regardless of how well or how poorly he performs the gait or the smoothness of the gait.

This smooth moving gait has been in existence a very long time. Archaeologists have found fossilized footprints, showing a lateral 4-beat gait. Pictures drawn on cave walls have demonstrated the horse in the same lateral gait. These fossils and pictures have been dated to 3.5 million year ago (or so they say!). The “evolution” of the gaited horse is not as new as many believe.

The American gaited horse can be traced back to the early 1600′s and found primarily in the Northeast section of the USA. These horses were brought to the USA from Ireland and Scotland. They were originally Galloway and Hobbies. Early settlers were drawn to the gaited horse, as riding was the main way of travel. The smoothness of gait and the gentleness of the horse made them the popular horse of the day. The exact action of these early gaited horses, called Palfreys, is unknown, as history refers to any lateral gait merely as an “ambling” gait.

Out of these breeds came the Narragansett pacer. This breed of horse went on to be the foundation of many of today’s gaited breeds. These include the American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walker, gaited Morgan’s and other smooth gaited saddle horses, such as the Kentucky Mtn. Saddle Horse, Mtn. Pleasure Horse & Rocky Mtn. Horse. Many of these breeds also descended from the Spanish Barb or Spanish Jennet.

The Narragansett Pacer was a smaller horse and did not last long as an America breed. Many were exported to the Caribbean, Africa and Canada. They were crossed with Thoroughbreds. The bloodlines of the pacer are evident in many of the modern breeds. Some people believe that the Canadian Pacer and the Narragansett pacer are one and the same horse.

Side Note from Dennis: An observation here from my readings. It appears that the pacer was at the lateral end of the scale, in action, and had a pace/pace pair of genes. When crossed with trotting horses, tot/trot pair of genes, the gait began moving towards the diagonal end of the scale. This is when the Fox Trot showed up. (see below: a very simplified description of the gait) This is one reason, I believe, that breeding should be a major issue in the gaited horse. We need to find the combination that produces a truly comfortable gait, thus reducing some of the frustration in finding the consistency of smoothness desired.

The Southwest corner of the USA, dating back to the late 1400′s, brought in the Spanish Barb and the Spanish Jennets. These horses, commonly called Palfreys, were considered the finest and most beautiful horses in the world. A commonly held belief is that they went on to produce the Paso Fino and the Peruvian breeds. This Spanish influence is believed to have also been involved in the development of the Mountain horse in Kentucky. Tradition has it that the foundation stock for theses horses came from the Colorado and New Mexico areas.

The Icelandic horse has been kept in seclusion in Iceland for nearly a thousand years. This practice of isolation has preserved the appearance of the original Celtic horse and is one of the oldest breeds in the world.

A lot of cross breeding, inbreeding and selective breeding have brought the modern gaited horses to where they are today. It is hard to trace the exact lines of any particular breed of gaited horse. Regardless of the origins of the lateral gait, and the differences among breeds, the smoothness of the gaited horse is highly prized and is again taking a prominent part in American society. Most American gaited horses exhibit beauty, gently disposition, a willing mind along with a natural 4-beat gait.

About the Author

Dennis Quilliams

Training for a smoother horse and more comfortable ride

www.horsesense4u.com

www.horsesensedk.com