Gaited horse?

I know this is a stupid question.. and I've been working/riding/been around horses mostly my whole life, so im really not that dumb when it comes to them, but what is a gaited horse?

Or what does that term mean??!

Please don't think im dumb for asking. I've just never heard anyone really talk about it, or asked anyone untill now.

Maybe I even do know, just didnt realize it???

There is a nice little sub-forum up here in the breed section where you can read about all sorts of things pertaining to "Gaited Horses".

A gait is just a way of moving, classified by a specific pattern of footfalls.

Most horses have three main gaits: walk, trot, canter.

A "Gaited" horse, has more gaits than the usual three. Different breeds call these "extra" gaits, different things. For example, with Tennessee Walking horses, their most notable gait is the Running Walk. The walker folks can explain a bit more in detail.

Usually, these non-WTC gaits are very smooth, and easy riding, making them great horses for people with back problems, though I have heard that pacing (have you seen a Standardbred Pacer, for example) will jar you to the core.

Ohhhhh wowww. Thanks!


See I did know something about them and just didnt realize it.

Way back before I owned gaited horses, I used to think that a gaited horse was good at opening gates.

Ahhhhhhhahahahaha! Sorry, that's just so funny.