Horses are well-known to be the perfect friend and companion. They are often used as service animals in hospitals or even ridden by the military. One of their most useful features is gaited or non-gaited, which allows them to move with speed, efficiency, and power. So, which is better: gaited vs non gaited horse?
Gaited horses can perform a few distinct forms of gait, including walk, trot, and canter. They possess extra joints that allow for a smooth gait so that they can travel faster than their non-gaited counterparts. Gaiting horses have been bred to have endurance as well as speed.
Today I will break down a few characteristics that distinguish a gaited horse from one a non-gaited one. So let’s start!
What is a Horse Gaiting?
The manner and style in which horses move are called horse gaiting. Moving similarly to humans is also examined in animal locomotion. Similar to humans, horses can move by walking, pacing, or running.
Horse gaits may be considered metaphorically as metaphors for the manner or style of how humans or horses move. The manner or style of how horses move is studied in equine locomotion. So a horse’s gait is a metaphor for that type of method and style.
- Gallop: Horses move fastest when they are galloping. Like this gait, the gallop is used more often as part of a movement sequence than the hobbled trot. It is called the back gait when it is moving in reverse.
- Trot: A horse’s gait that involves moving its hooves in paired diagonals is a two-beat gait called “trot.”
- Walk: The walk is the horse’s slowest gait, with each step conceived as independent from the air. Because the word gait implies a four-beat cycle.
- Canter: If you step-up A horse from the trot, you can call it the canter. The canter is where two occasionally leave the ground independently while another land simultaneously. To the right or to the left, the footfall pattern determines the canter’s direction.
Based on the White House Fence, you may find some internationally recognizable gaited horses everywhere. They are categorized according to the pattern of the footfall and the speed of the horse. And, there are other gait types as well, limited breeds.
How Do You Know Your Horse is Gaited?
In the horse world, the term gaited horse will come into use occasionally, but this can confuse newcomers to the industry. Herein, we will explain everything you need to know.
A gaited horse specially walks independently with each leg. This conserves the horse’s energy, allowing faster and more strenuous travel. You can use Gaited horses for traveling since they can keep up the strength of their legs for longer periods.
Horses, the favored method of travel due to their smooth gaits, were most popular before vehicles were invented. Since they were easy to carry, people could travel long distances without being tired at the end of a long day.
What Is A Non-Gaited Horse?
Stock horses, quarter horses, appaloosas, paints, and detailed bread are not gaited. You may have horses such as fox walkers, Tennesee walking horses, or saddle horses which are gaited. These types of horses are typically similar to greyhounds.
But they can also perform the regular walk, gallop, canter, or trot. While horses are supposed to be gaited, that doesn’t necessarily indicate that they truly are. Horses that are not gaited have to be trained.
What Is The Difference Between A Gaited And Non Gaited Horse?
If I categorize the differences between a no-gaited vs gaited horse, I can show you some specific matters. Here are they:
1. Movement
I would like to share a few common movements of the Gaited horse you can find on them.
- Slow Gait: Sometimes slow type gait is referred to as most stepping pace, or uneven pace. You may find their legs on the same side lift from the ground and land at slightly different times.
- Rack: This is like a standard walk in that one foot after the other remains on the ground, but it’s a more elaborate walk than regular. It is a faster pace of movement than a usual steady walk.
- Running Walk: Similar to a walk, the running walk features the overstepping of hind feet by roughly eighteen inches over purchase front foot. Also like the walk, it consists of four legs. An additional characteristic of the running walk is the rhythmic movement of the horse’s head, ears, and legs in alignment with one another.
A gaited horse can be trained to perform any gait that it is capable of, so whether a horse performs a rack, a running walk or some other variation on the natural pacing gait, it can be referred to as gaited.
On the other hand, a non-gaited horse does not have any fixed or specific movement. They follow their own style and do not maintain any rhythm.
2. Breeds
Gaited horses, known as the early 1800s, provide noticeable benefits to riders due to their stamina and endurance; they can easily endure long trips without stopping. Gaited horses’ natural ability to conserve energy while traveling means they are not affected by fatigue as easily as others on horseback riding.
Here is a few common gaited horse breeds listed for you:
a) Icelandic Horse
b) American Standardbred
c) Appaloosa
d) American Saddlebred
e) Paso Fino
f) Rocky Mountain Horse
g) Tennessee Walking Horse
h) Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse
i) Peruvian Paso
But there is nothing discussed about a non-gaited horse about their breeding.
3. Benefits of Gaited or Non- Gaited Horse
There are many benefits to using a gaited horse for trail riding or any other equestrian activity. Here are they:
- Perfect for Long Riding: Gaited horses, particularly those that are well-trained, tend to have better endurance than other horses and can go farther between stops. Because they’re able to change gaits more often than other horses when riding over different terrain, you’re less likely to need a break and can go farther before needing to stop.
- Have Cool Attitude: Gaited horses are usually quieter, making them great for young or novice riders. Because they’re not high-strung and excitable like most trotters and canters, gaited horses tend to be more laid back and easygoing. They’re less inclined to get into trouble or spook easily.
- Easy to Ride: Gaited horses have a smoother ride than most other horses because they have such low movement in their paces. Riders don’t have to worry about soreness or pain in their joints and skeletal system when riding gaited horses for long periods.
Non- gaited horses are not trained for extra benefit like Gaited horses. They move as usual and do normal things. They have nothing special to explain.
4. Speed
Like any normal horse, a gaited horse moves like a gaited horse at a gait, it places all four feet down independently, the speed increase upon entering a breed of gaited horses is 4 times that of a horse at a trot.
And some gaited horses can walk so fast that other gaited horses can’t catch up to them at the trot. Non-gaited horses could not walk or run so fast like gaited can. Some horses are more gait-capable than others and should not be ridden in gaits that they cannot perform.
But that is true with all horses. There is a variation in how each horse performs when it is gaited, but the basic type of gaited horse is still identified by its ‘gait’.
It can result in a smoother or more comfortable ride than horses that only perform a walk or canter. Because they have low movement in their paces. A gaited horse can also be trained to travel more smoothly when a change of gait is desired. On the other side, a no- gaited horse does not provide a calm attitude and smooth riding. They can be trained like gaited horses.
In a nutshell, if we make a comparison table shortly, it will be like this chart:
| Topic | Gaited Horse | Non-Gaited Horse |
| Riding | Smoother for riding | Not perfect |
| Breeding | Yes | No |
| Nature | Calm | Not so calm |
| Energy Need | Less | More |
| Stamina | Can reserve it | Normal |
| Walking Pattern | Follow a pattern | Normal |
| Cantor | Yes | No |
| Gallop | Yes | No |
| Trot | Yes | No |
| Speed | More | Less |
| Efficiency | More efficient | Less efficient |
Is A Gaited Horse Better Or Non Gaited Horse?
If I tell you about some situation, why you should choose a gaited horse, those are:
- They require less energy, which is ideal for rides away from the base.
- Gaited horses are calm and they find acceptance among novice riders.
- They’re great for traveling causes because of their stamina.
It can’t be said that a gaited horse is better than a non-gaited one. At best, they are more suited for one purpose over the other. So it depends on your purpose.
FAQs:
How Can You Tell If A Horse Is Gaited?
When walking, a horse will typically have a four-beat gait. When trotting, each foot will drop separately, following a particular pattern. Most of the gaited horses always follow a right hind pattern, or left hind pattern, or may follow right front, or left front and more.
Can Any Horse Be Gaited?
Not all horses can be gaited. There are only a few types of horses that are naturally gaited. Gaited horses are special horses, and others can be taught to ride.
What’s The Difference Between A Gaited Horse And A Regular Horse?
Different horse breeds have recorded a distinctive manner of walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping. This variety may have been artificially created or naturally inherent from birth.
Final Words
A gaited horse has been trained to perform a particular gait, such as a walk, canter, or rack. A non-gaited horse is one that only walks, trots, or canters. There are different types of gaited horses, but they all have the same basic type of gait, walking.
Any gait is possible for every gaited horse, and even some non-gaited horses can be trained to perform a walk if they are trained correctly. If you ask me to choose one from gaited vs non gaited horse, I suggest you go for a gaited horse.
Reference:
https://equinehelper.com/what-is-a-gaited-horse/
https://horseyhooves.com/gaited-horse/
https://arenabuddy.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/gaited-vs-non-gaited/
https://vivopets.com/gaited-vs-non-gaited-horses/
