Gaited horses are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. There are several reasons for this.

Statistics show that the average rider is getting older. This means an increase in back and knee pain, arthritis and injuries. Also, older riders often prefer pleasure and trail riding over show-ring disciplines. For these and other reasons, more and more riders are turning to the smoother ride of gaited horses.

If you are not already working with gaited horses as part of your hoof-care practice, the chances are good that gaited horse owners will approach you in the future.

Many farriers are reluctant to work with gaited breeds. The main reason seems to be a lack of information. Many farriers, owners and veterinarians assume that because these horses move differently from the trot breeds we are most familiar with, they must require special treatment. This misconception is made worse by the weighted shoes, stacked pads and chains that some gaited horses wear in the show ring. In reality, however, if we remember the basic principles of anatomy, form and function, hoof care for gaited horses is not much different than working with any other breed.

Why Are They So Smooth?

Why do trotting horses jar the rider, while at the same speed, the gaited horse is comfortable to ride? The trot contains a moment of suspension where all four legs of the horse are off the ground. This is what makes the gait so rough: the horse essentially throws himself (and his rider) into the air, then bounces back down to earth. 

The walk (a gait all horses are capable of) does not contain any suspension and therefore is very smooth. Unfortunately, since the walk is relatively slow, it is not really a practical gait if the rider wants to get anywhere!

The footfall of the gaited horse is identical to the basic walk gait, only faster. Essentially, the gaited horse takes the basic walk gait and (to borrow a popular phrase) “kicks it up a notch.”

This is why at least for some breeds, the gait is literally called a “running walk.” Gaited horses always have at least two feet on the ground, so there is no suspension phase or bounce. Horses can gait at speeds from 5 to 25 mph, equivalent to a trot or a canter.

Do One Breed, Do Them All

Part of the confusion with gaited horses is terminology. Every gaited breed has its own name for its gait. Farriers (and owners) think that a running walk is different from a tölt, which is different from a paso llano. But, just as a Western pleasure jog is still the same basic gait as an extended dressage trot, all gaited horses are basically following the same gait. (A noteworthy exception is the Missouri Fox Trotter.)

The expression of the gait — the breed’s “style” — is the only thing that changes. If you can handle the hoof care needs of one of the gaited breeds, you can do them all.

Blame The Rider Before The Horse

In my practice, I am often called upon to assess and correct gait “faults.” If the horse is not gaiting correctly, the first person called to fix the horse is often the farrier. However, what I usually find is that the problem is due to rider error rather than a fault of the horse. Many riders simply do not know how to ride a gaited horse!

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that because these horses are so smooth, the rider can just sit back and enjoy the ride. In reality, gaited horses require skill and knowledge to ride correctly.

THE TRADITIONAL LOOK. This Peruvian Paso is decked out in the traditional Peruvian tack.

Riders transitioning from English or Western riding into working with gaited horses need to recognize that the style of riding is completely different. The most important thing to remember is “collection, collection, collection.”

Collection is a lifting of the shoulders, flexing at the poll, rounding of the back and working off the rear end. If the horse is ridden on the forehand with a loose rein and low head-set, his gait will suffer.

Another common saying in the gaited world is “speed kills.” Since the horse is so smooth, it is fun to go fast! However, most gaited horses perform their best gait at a speed approximately equivalent to a working trot. When pushed to go too fast, the gait tends to become less evenly spaced and collection is lost.

Particular attention must be paid to tack style and fit. Saddles must allow free movement in the shoulder and allow the rider to sit deep in the saddle. Most Western and English saddles simply do not seat the rider for optimum gait.

Saddle fit on some breeds, particularly the short-backed Spanish breeds, can be very difficult. Fortunately, many saddle manufacturers are now coming up with excellent gaited saddles.

As far as bits are concerned, a curb bit with shanks and a curb chain to enhance collection is a must. The exception is the Icelandic horse, which is traditionally ridden in a snaffle bit.

Look At  The Horse

When I am called in to evaluate a gaited horse, the first thing I will assess is conformation. Whether I have done it once or 100 times, I walk around that horse. This is something you never want to neglect with a problem horse. I look at muscle mass, limb deformities, hoof angles and lateral-medial balance — all the issues you would assess with any horse.

I don’t know how many farriers routinely palpate the horse’s back, but I do it on almost every horse. It is especially critical with the gaited breeds since, as I mentioned before, improper saddle fit leads to gait problems.

Every gaited horse must be analyzed in motion. Remember that the way it moves is the reason the owner has this horse! To analyze foot-fall, it helps to gait the horse on hard ground where the hoof beats can be better heard.

PERUVIAN PASO. This horse is slightly larger, is stockier and has a longer stride than the Paso Fino.

Assess the horse when it is at liberty if possible. A lot of the time, I will be driving up the lane to the barn and see this “problem” horse gaiting perfectly in the pasture! Obviously, if the horse gaits well at liberty, it is not his fault if he does not gait under saddle!

If I do not see an obvious lameness, I will ask the owner to ride the horse. This allows me to see if appropriate tack is being used, if the tack fits the horse correctly and if the rider is riding correctly.

Again, more often than not I find so-called gait faults to be rider-influenced. It is not easy to tell a rider that he or she needs riding lessons, but it is better than falsely blaming the horse (or the farrier!).

Avoid The Myths

Many of us hear the term “gaited” and immediately think of weights and pads. Do not fall into the myth that these horses need to be trimmed differently or have special shoes to make them gait properly. Naturally gaited means just that! Most naturally gaited horses do fine barefoot or flat-shod. In fact, the more we attempt to alter hoof angle, shoe weight, etc., the more we risk messing up their natural gait.

If you have to shoe these horses for show or for trail riding on rough terrain, use a very light shoe. I prefer the St. Croix Ultralite. You can also use training plates or aluminum shoes, but let your clients know that gaited horses are hard on their shoes, and these shoes will often wear out in about 2 weeks.

The key is to use an extremely light shoe. The effect of stress and impact with weighted shoes is not a good thing.

If your client intends to show his horse, make sure that you check the breed regulations, as requirements for shoe type, weight and hoof length vary between breed and even between show classes.

One common problem you will encounter with gaited horses is overreaching. A Peruvian Paso or Tennessee Walking Horse will often have 18 inches or more of overreach. Invariably, this means they are going to pull their front shoes.

Do not try to change the hoof angles or eliminate the overreach, as this is the horse’s inherent gait. Instead, educate the client that unfortunately, sometimes the best horses are the hardest to keep shoes on.

Most gaited horses are built with an uphill conformation — the neck is set high on the shoulders, there is a sloping croup, long rear legs with powerful hocks and a low tail set. This conformation aids the horse in collection and driving off his rear end.

Another thing to remember is that many of these horses have more sloping hoof-pastern angles than the average horse. This is not to be confused with underrun heels or the long toe and low heel syndrome. The lower pastern angle allows for more flex in the pastern, which serves as a shock absorber and adds to the smoothness of the gait. Make sure you are balancing these horses correctly and keep basic conformation principles in mind.

Keep It Simple!

With gaited horses, it is critical for both the owner and the farrier to fully understand the horse. This means taking the time and effort to analyze the horse instead of simply throwing foot accessories at it. What is important is to stick to the basics of trimming and shoeing.

In my experience, gaited horses are a pleasure to work with. Their owners are serious riders and passionate about their horses, so they make great clients. Avoid the idea that working with gaited horses is a mystery. It is not.

For details on the shoeing regulations for various gaited breeds, check the shoeing rules section in the November Directory issue of American Farriers Journal.