In recent years, gaited horses have grown in popularity, with many people choosing to learn to ride these unusual horses. But what is a gaited horse and are they the right horse for you?
There are approximately 30 breeds of horses which are considered to be gaited. In some breeds, such as the Morgan horse, only certain bloodlines are gaited.
Not all Appaloosa horses are gaited, but some bloodlines can perform a lateral gaited movement.
American Standardbred
Anyone who has watched harness racing will be familiar with the incredible paces of the American Standardbred. This breed can carry out two different gaits – pacing and trotting.
So, as we have learned, a gaited horse is one which has an additional or alternative gait. This gait is normally very comfortable and enables the horse to cover large areas of ground with minimal effort.