ALL ABOUT SMOOTH GAITS

There are lots of cool gaits beyond walk, trot and canter that make for an enjoyable ride.

- SAMANTHA JOHNSON

As someone who loves horses, you're no doubt familiar with the basic gaits. There's the walk: One foot at a time in a 1-2-3-4 pattern. You know all about trotting, where the horse's legs move in diagonal pairs in a two-beat pattern (it doesn't take very many riding lessons before you've learned to post properly to keep in rhythm with the horse!).

Cantering, with its faster three beat rocking motion, is even more fun to ride. And if you push a canter fast enough, it transitions into a four-beat gallop. Easy-peasy!

But some horses have other gaits that look different, sound different, and most definitely feel different to ride. Not all horses can perform these other gaits, but horses of some breeds are naturally capable of traveling on their feet in ways other than the four standard gaits. Let's take a closer look.

MEET THE BREEDS

In the U.S., we refer to "gaited horses" when speaking about breeds that can perform these extra gaits. But you may also hear them called "ambling horses," especially in other countries.

These horses perform what are sometimes called "smooth gaits," as they tend to have a four-beat rhythm with at least one foot in contact with the ground at all times, making them easy to ride. Picture a gait that's as smooth as the walk but much faster, like a trot or even a fast canter.

Some of the most well-known gaited breeds include the American Saddlebred, American Standardbred, Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Paso Fino, Icelandic Horse, Rocky Mountain Horse, Peruvian Horse, Tennessee Walking Horse, and others.