Gaits

ASB 5.0 Gaits WALK Animated Walk: This highly collected gait is executed at a controlled pace, demonstrating excellent action and animation. It possesses snap and offers easy control, and can manifest as either a two-beat or four-beat gait. Performed with flair, elegance, and a sense of lightness, it showcases style and grace in motion. Flat Walk: This four-beat gait should be relaxed and ground-covering, while maintaining proper form and a consistent stride. A flat walk should showcase the horse's good manners and attitude. Hunter Walk: This gait involves four beats, maintaining a straight and flat-footed stride. It is characterized by regularity and freedom of movement, with extension. TROT This gait is characterized by a two-beat diagonal movement where the front and opposite hind foot lift off and touch down simultaneously. The balanced trot exhibits straight and precise motion in the front legs, with the hocks flexing and carried close together. It is executed with a high level of collection, showcasing the horse's athletic prowess. Extended Trot:

The extended trot is executed with increased speed, strength, and boldness, featuring a more pronounced extension of the stride to achieve the desired velocity. This gait is characterized by a high level of collection, maintaining control and balance even at higher speeds. Gaited Trot:

During the trot, it's essential to demonstrate speed at the maximum rate the horse can sustain while maintaining form, balance and control. Hunter Trot:

The trot is a straightforward two-beat gait executed at a moderate pace, characterized by a fluid, ground-covering stride. It should exhibit manners, rhythm, and balance, with each step being cadenced and controlled. Hunter Extended Trot:

A two-beat gait characterized by boldness, energy, balance, and ground coverage, with a noticeable elongation of stride. This elongation should naturally lead to a speed increase without any hint of rushing or frantic movement. Throughout, the horse's mouth should remain light, and it must consistently exhibit complete acceptance of control without any resistance. Parade Trot:

A collected trot, capped at a maximum speed of five miles per hour, showcases the horse's athleticism and animation. Park Trot:

The park trot is executed with a high degree of collection, prioritizing animation over speed, with penalties imposed for excessive velocity. Roadster Jog Trot:

The jog-trot is executed with a significant level of collection, emphasizing animation while penalizing excessive speed. Roadster Road Gait:

The road gait is executed with a significant level of collection, displaying a heightened level of speed, strength, and boldness compared to the jog-trot. This gait involves extending the stride further to achieve the desired velocity. When prompted to "drive on," the horse is expected to accelerate while maintaining proper form, control, and balance. The ideal speed is the highest pace at which the horse can trot while still upholding these essential elements. Show Your Horse:

The driver holds the honor of presenting the horse in its optimal form during the trot, with an emphasis on showcasing its best attributes. Excessive speed, however, will result in penalties. Western Jog Trot:

The jog is designed to minimize saddle motion, necessitating only minimal rider input for control. It embodies a relaxed, easygoing two-beat diagonal gait, maintaining its distinctiveness without blending into other gaits. CANTER A deliberate, graceful, and smooth three-beat rhythm characterizes this description. Emphasizing efficiency in movement, achieving optimal action, and maintaining proper form are essential. The pace is controlled, resembling a gentle gallop where two legs on opposite sides of the horse move together while the remaining two operate independently—specifically, the leading foreleg and its corresponding diagonal hind leg. The primary driving force originates from the hindquarters, with the leading foreleg absorbing the impact of the final phase of each beat. During this sequence, there's a fleeting moment where all four hooves are airborne. This gait is versatile, adaptable for both sides of the horse, and performed with a lead that directs toward the center of the arena, aiding in stability and alleviating strain. Determining the lead depends on which foreleg, whether right or left, bears the brunt of the impact during the final phase of the rhythm, following the propulsion initiated by its diagonal hind leg. In certain classes where manners are less emphasized or where achieving speed at a specific gait is the goal, a more robust and powerful canter from the horse may be acceptable. Control, speed, and collection can be adjusted based on the requirements of the class. However, in situations where manners are of utmost importance, maintaining a deliberate and steady pace is crucial, with minimal visible effort from the rider. Extended Canter:

Should demonstrate a clear increase in stride length while maintaining control and poise. Excessive speed will result in deductions. Hand Gallop:

The hand gallop involves a lengthy, unrestrained stride that covers ample ground. Variations in the extent of ground covered may occur among horses due to differences in their natural stride lengths. It should demonstrate a distinct elongation of stride while ensuring the horse maintains control, manners, correctness, and straightness on both leads. It's important to note that the hand gallop is not a swiftly collected canter. Hunter Canter:

A three beat gait, even, smooth, unhurried, correct and straight on both leads. Lope:

The lope in Western riding, akin to the canter in English riding, should offer a smooth, enjoyable ride with consistent and steady motion. It should maintain a balanced pace, not excessively slow or fast, and executed proficiently on both leads. The gait should exude comfort and feature a clear three-beat rhythm, avoiding any tendency to trot behind.

SLOW GAIT The slow gait originated from the pace, evolving into a distinctive four-beat gait where each of the four feet makes individual contact with the ground. During takeoff, the lateral front and hind feet commence almost simultaneously, but the hind foot touches down slightly ahead of its lateral forefoot. This gait is characterized by significant collection, with the majority of propulsion originating from the hindquarters, while the forequarters contribute to the final beats. It's crucial to note that the slow gait is not synonymous with a medium rack. Instead, it is a controlled four-beat gait performed deliberately and precisely, without excessive speed, which incurs penalties. It embodies a lofty, elegant, and restrained style, showcasing the horse's grace and refinement. RACK The rack is characterized by a four-beat gait where each foot touches the ground at equal and distinct intervals. It exhibits smoothness and lively animation, performed with notable action and speed, albeit with a slight degree of freedom. The desired speed and collection are gauged by the maximum rate at which a horse can rack gracefully. Maintaining a well-set head is essential for proper form during racking. Transitioning effortlessly from the slow gait, all strides in the rack should become equally rapid and regular. Any tendencies towards a trotty, pacey, or hitchy gait are subject to penalties. In those classes where manners are important, there is more emphasis on an easy way of going with only moderate speed required, such as in Pleasure classes. ASB: American Saddlebred Class Specifications