FOR NEWCOMERS

About the Breed
Gait Tips
Getting Gaited!

In 1991 an organization was started for the production of ranch, pleasure, competition and versatility horses that move with a true old style traveling, single-footing gait. The North American Single-Footing Horse Association was started as a performance based registry. The goals were set by avid trail riders and ranch owners who log thousands of miles a year on horses under various conditions. They knew what it took to make a good, usable saddle horse. Over and over again these riders requested the same qualities in a horse:

• Solid strong natural gait, a big range in gait speeds, maximum smoothness at all speeds.
• A tractable "willingness to work" temperament that is neither hot and explosive nor lethargic and stubborn.
• General working conformation such as saddle back, good feet, good legs, endurance, and athletic ability.

The old style traveling single-footing gait came closest to the needs of these riders. A major consideration was the big range of useful speeds at which the gait can be performed. This is an easy gait for the horse to travel and the medium length of stride at most speeds lends itself to an athletic conformation and ability, particularly regarding stock horse type moves.

What makes the single-footing gait unique? Ideally the gait is an intermediate 4 beat gait and is very near even in timing. It can be performed at a huge range of speeds. From a relaxed trail speed of 7 to 9 mph, to a ground eating road gait speed of 12 to 15 mph, to the breathtaking racing single-foot (and the speed at which the name "single-footing" comes from) of over 20 mph. At the fastest speeds these horses will be traveling with one foot on the ground at a time, thus the name "single-footing". Some horses will start single-footing at a road gait speed and others at racing speed. Either is correct. While the ideal horse will remain as close as possible to even timing at all speeds, the reality is that at top speeds these horses tend toward a more lateral timing. We do not want to see horses that are near a dead pace at speed and do not consider this single-footing. Speed is characteristic of this gait, but speed at the intermediate gait for the sake of speed with improper form is not a goal. This makes for a weak gaited saddle horse and that is exactly what NASHA wants to avoid.

Trail riders also found they needed a horse with some lift in front to clear uneven ground without stumbling. This lift comes natural to this gait since the single-footing horse must get the front end out of the way of the driving rear end at speed. The rear end should at least cap and will often over-stride as speed increases. The length of stride increasing with speed keeps the horse smooth at various speeds. This requires a powerful driving rear end. Both excessive rear hock action or a low skating action that leads to tripping in the rear should be avoided. Since the gait is both even in timing and medium in stride, the horse will not exhibit a head nod or bob. These horses generally travel with head up. Many may stretch out, lowering their heads at the racing single-foot.

Locating the few remaining pockets of horses with a true single-footing gait was not easy. When found, these horses were generally very tightly line- bred. Outside blood was necessary. For the first several years any horse with an intermediate 4 beat gait was eligible for registration as long as the owners were dedicated to producing single-footing horses from that point on. The registry is still open but in 1998 horses that running walk, fox trot, slick pace or have extremely long striding or short tight striding gaits are no longer accepted for registration. The registry will place appropriate restrictions on new applications to insure overall quality and correctness of gait.

Horses were found in rare pockets of true single-footers within other gaited breeds where certain lines produced occasional single-footers rather than the appropriate gait for their breed and from wild horse herds and non-gaited breeds where a crop out still occurs. Needless to say, the rare pockets of single-footers dominate the breeding programs of North American Single-Footing Horses.

It was also absolutely essential to the interested participants in the registry that these horses do not become show horses, but remain working horses. The design of the award program includes a series of checks and balances, which insure that these horses are rewarded for working qualities. Both gait classes offered by NASHA are geared toward working qualities. No horse in any class can carry a shoe heavier than a trail shoe. Of the 45 categories offered for high points awards only two are show ring gait classes; road gait and park gait. Road gait is the premier gait class for single-footing horses. Rather than rewarding a perfectly trained horse that is carefully held in perfect gait, the judge will push the horses. We need to see if and at what point the horse’s gait will break down to check for strength of gait, which is essential in a good trail horse. We are looking for genetics, not training ability. After gait judging, the horses are required to stand quietly while the rider dismounts, ground ties the horse, opens the saddlebags, reaches in and returns to the horse and mounts. Then the horse must back quietly. These are basic trail manners. During gait judging the horse must travel in a relaxed easy manner.

Not surprisingly, a conformation is emerging that lends itself to the type of horse that NASHA requires. The North American Single-Footing Horse is well on its way to becoming a performance based " breed" registry. A "breed of horse" is simply selecting for a specific purpose, which allows a consistent type to emerge. After at least 3 generations of selective breeding producing consistent results, a breed begins to emerge that is distinct from other breeds already in existence. What we are starting to see is a horse similar to the old style Morgan in conformation with a slightly more refined neck. This is not surprising when you consider the original purpose intended for the Morgan horse and the genetic types used in its development. The NASHA horse differs from this type because the gait is of primary importance. The use of Narragansett type gaited horses (known for their speed in gait) combined with heavy use of the Spanish style gaited stock for improved lateral flexibility for ranch use, is producing a type not found in other gaited breeds.

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