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Return to the Model Horse Gallery Home Pageby Didi Hornberger
Gaited models in what seems like the correct model show classes? Are you sometimes confused as to exactly what constitutes a "Gaited Horse"? Do some of those "Gaited Breed" classes make you crazy? Well – with all of the multiple plastic, resin, and "other" type models out there these days, here's some food for thought on different types of "gaiting", and on the many different kinds of Gaited horses, and where they may show, best.
The "easy part" is the "non-gaited" horse, whose natural, genetically inbred way of travel translates simply to walk, trot, and canter, and gallop. The trot is the easiest visual way to see if a horse – or model – is shown moving with its legs together in diagonal pairs. If it is, the horse, or model is trotting, and is therefore generally assumed to be a "non-gaited horse." The trot also has a very distinctive two-beat footfall, as the diagonal pairs of legs strike the ground at the same time. With trotting models , the diagonal legs are either moving together – or they aren't.
Many real Gaited horses can, and do also trot, but in addition to the trot they can also move with their same-side legs striking the ground together, or one after another in rapid succession, with a distinctive three-or four beat footfall. If a horse can perform a "middle gait" either in addition to, or other than the trot, he is considered to be "gaited" in some fashion or another. The three or four-beat footfall is usually an indicator of a much smoother ride than the trot, since "gaiting" often produces a side-to-side "rocking motion" of the horse's back and frame, instead of the bouncy up-and-down vertical motion of the trot.
While some non-gaited horses can actually be taught to "gait" in some fashion, the majority of gaited horses have some genetic predisposition to "gait" in their ancestry. The American Saddlebred is one such breed, having inherited this predisposition from its foundation breeding of the Thoroughbred, crossed on Narragansett Pacer. In the 1800's the breed was known as the Kentucky Saddler, and was prized for its easy gaits and its fancy looks. It was a versatile horse which could be used for harness, farm work, and match races. The ancestors of the Saddlebred were naturally gaited, and many Saddlebreds can and do naturally perform a natural 4-beat gait, without training of any sort. Most can learn additional gaits, however newborn Saddlebred foals with the predisposition to "gait" will move with their legs in same-side pairs from the moment they hit the ground. In the modern Saddlebred, the four-beat slow gait and rack may be "enhanced" by artificial appliances and by training methods, however the predisposition to perform the two additional gaits is genetically inherent in the breed.
To date, the plastic Gaited models are numerous, and the more obvious ones (according to their animated molded pose) include the Breyer Five-Gaiter, Missouri Fox Trotter, American Saddlebred, Paso Fino, "Big Lick" TWH and Peruvian; the Stone Lite-Shod TWH, and the Hartland TWH and 3 and 5 gaited Saddlebreds. Take a closer look at the legs on the Breyer Marabella model; she is also "technically" not trotting, but "gaiting. Which makes her "questionable" for being correctly shown as a "Morgan horse", since Morgan horses traditionally "do not "gait". Or do they??? Surprise, surprise………………….. according to several online website references, there actually ARE registered Morgans which "gait". However the "gaiting" Morgans are rare, and these gaited Morgans would likely not be shown in any kind of regular Morgan Breed Performance class. Since they appear to be selectively bred for trail and pleasure riding, the "Gaited Morgans" would only find classes to compete at certain "specialty" shows. Where does this leave the Breyer Marabella, one of Breyer's nicest molds, with her long history of model-showing in Morgan classes??? Check out the following website, to see the very beautiful natural-gaited "Silvershoe Highlander" Gaited Morgan, working out at the Kentucky Horse Park! (As well as other live Gaited Morgans:)
Well – you can always ask your model show judge for their preference on showing the Marabella in a Performance class. Or, you could document your Marabella as a "Gaited Morgan". Or – you could just stick her into a Morgan class and hope no one knows (or cares) about the difference. But given today's strict attention to detail by model horse exhibitors and judges alike, it is rarely a good idea to leave any small detail to chance. Those "gaiting legs" should not make any difference in a halter class; however if a "gaiting Marabella" is competing in a non-gaiting Morgan Breed Performance class, then the Marabella model would be safer showing with some type of documentation that she is competing in a "specialty class" for "Gaited Morgans". (Oh, goody – isn't this fun???) Of course, sometimes it is not fun at all when someone gets caught on the short end of a model-judging decision, either for a judge or for an exhibitor. So if you own and show a Breyer Marabella model, this is something to think about.
WIKIPEDIA defines a "Gaited Horse," thus:
"Gaited horses are horse breeds that have natural gaited tendencies, that is, the ability to perform one of the smooth to ride, intermediate speed four-beat horse gaits, collectively referred to as ambling gaits.
Such breeds include the following:
In most "gaited" breeds, an ambling gait is a hereditary trait. However, some representatives of these breeds may not always gait. Many horses can both trot and amble, and some naturally trotting horses of other breeds not listed above may have ambling or "gaited" ability, particularly with specialized training. Some horses Pace in addition to the amble, instead of trotting. However, pacing in gaited horses is generally discouraged. A few horses do not naturally trot or pace easily, they prefer their ambling gait for their standard intermediate speed. "
Below is a list of some of the Gaited Breeds and the natural gaits they perform. Two exceptions to "naturally gaited" may be the three-gaited Saddlebred, (it is not required to show at other than W-T-C,) and the National Show Horse; however according to these individual breed histories, the predisposition to "gait" naturally is inherent in all of these bloodlines. If you enjoy showing those Gaited models, this is an excellent guide to the many and varied gaits which are found among gaited horses. If you are still in doubt as to where to show a particular Gaited model, check your "Breed Histories" online, and document, document, document. It also never hurts to ask your show judge for their preference.
Bashkir Curlies (Gaited) (About 10% of Curlies which have been crossbred to gaited horses will do one of the ambling gaits, such as the Running Walk, Fox Trot, or Stepping Pace, which is called the "Curly Shuffle".) Gaited Curlies are not used for racing or high trotting showing. (Not relevant to models yet, that I'm aware of - no plastic "Curlies". Do we have any resin Curlies?)
Florida Cracker – Running Walk, lateral single-foot "Coon Rack"
Icelandic Horse – These are considered 5-Gaited. Natural gaits, as well as Walk, Trot and Canter, are the "Tolt", and the "Flugskied", or "Flying Pace." They are raced, while ridden.
Mangalarga Marchador - Walk, Canter & Gallop, plus 2 natural ambling gaits, "marcha batida", and "marcha picada".
Missouri Foxtrotter - Flat Foot Walk, Fox-Trot, and Canter. Fox Trot is a natural 4-beat gait, with head nodding. Low action. Some can perform the amble (running walk or singlefoot.) Backgound bloodlines include ASB, STB, TWH, TB, Morgan, & Arabian. Breed was formed in 1984, recognized in 1958. Stud book was closed in 1983. No artificial devices, natural tails, tail nicking not allowed.
Morgans (Gaited) - (W-T-C; Singlefoot, Saddle Rack, Running Walk, Rack, Fox Trot, or Stepping pace) (Some gait naturally, from Narragansett Pacer bloodlines thru Jubilee King and Flyhawk. \
Mules, Gaited - (High Quality natural lateral gait – depends on type of gaited mare and/or jack or donkey the mule was bred from.)
National Show Horse - (W-T-C) (SOME can be trained to Slow Gait and Rack.) Breed Registry founded in 1981.
North American Single Footing Horse (Road Gait & Park Gait) (An even, 4-beat gait; natural shod, no artificial devices used.)
Ponies – Gaited - (Check out American Gaited Pony and American Walking Pony)
Racking Horses - (W – Rack. No Canter. No set tails, no action devices. Singlefoot gait.. Established 5/23/71.
Gaits are NATURUAL to the breed.
Rocky Mountain Horses - Gaited (4-beat Singlefoot or Rack – No pacing. Ambling middle gait is natural from birth, not trained.)
Saddlebreds – Five Gaited (W-T-C-Slow Gait-Rack)
Saddlebreds – Three Gaited (W-T-C)
Spanish – Gaited
Paso Fino: (Natural, 4-beat lateral ambling gaits -Fino, Paso Corto, Paso Largo)
Peruvian: (Natural, 4-beat lateral ambling gaits – Walk, Paso Llano and Sobreandando, and Canter, to be performed with "termino" (outward swing of forelegs) and "brio", or brilliance.)
Spanish Jennet: (Natural, 4-beat lateral gait – Flat Walk, Corto or Llano, Largo, Canter and Gallop)
Standardbred Pacers - (Walk, 2-beat Pace (at speed) & Canter – Some can also be trained to trot)
Spotted Saddle Horse -: (4 Sub-Divisions – Open Shod, Lite Shod, Show Pleasure, Trail Pleasure)
(Required "Saddle Gait" Flat Walk, Stepping Pace, Fox Trot, Singlefoot, Running Walk, pace, rack, or combination of all. Naturally gaited.)
Tennessee Walker - (Big Lick; Light Shod) (Flat Walk, Running Walk, Canter)
Icelandic Horse – These are considered 5-Gaited. Natural gaits, as well as Walk, Trot and Canter, are the "Tolt", and the "Flugskied", or "Flying Pace." They are raced, while ridden.
Other Breeds/Types which can perform a "middle gait" other than (but sometimes also including) the trot.
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