FEBRUARY 2007

     The Soft Gaited Horse©

     Soft gaited horses have been my passion for more than 40 years. They are the treasures of pleasure riding. Unfortunately, they are for the most part, a well-kept secret.

     First of all, I'd like to clear up some misconceptions. Although the various soft-gaited breeds are seen in horse shows, their primary purpose is to be trail horses. They are actually bred to be docile and devoted companions to their humans. Within each registry's guidelines you will find the desire to maintain and encourage an even-tempered and cooperative horse. Of course, the main claim to fame for these horses is their ability to keep 1, 2 or 3 feet on the ground at all times when they are performing their "second gear."

     The second gear most riders are familiar with is the trot. The trot is a diagonal two-beat gait. The left front foot moves with the right rear foot and then the right front moves with the left rear. The gait produces a definite two beat rhythm which allows the horse to have all four feet off the ground mid stride. The horse actually lands on its two diagonal feet producing a jarring effect on the rider. This makes it necessary for the rider to post or develop the skill to sit the trot.

     The soft-gaited or single footing horse shouldn't trot under saddle. Instead, for its second gear, it moves in its own breed-specific gait. In this gait, the horse is able to move out quickly, with the same comfort to the rider as the walk. Since most soft-gaited horses have the ability to perform more than one of these specialized gaits, it is important for them to be trained to stick to one at a time. It can be confusing to riders new to the soft-gaited horses. It is easy to become bewildered by the horse's "shifting of gears."

     When we are working with these new riders we make sure they experience the correct gait. If a person never feels the joy of a well-performed 4-beat gait, they sometimes settle for less; never knowing what they're missing.