Western Gaits

A western horse has three well-defined gaits or way of going. The American Quarter Horse Association Rule Book defines these three gaits as follows:

1. The Walk

The horses walk is a natural, flat-footed, four-beat gait. The horse must move straight and true at the walk. The walk must be alert, with a stride of reasonable length in keeping with the size of the horse.

2. The Jog

The jog is a smooth, ground-covering two-beat diagonal gait. The horse works from one pair of diagonals to the other pair. The jog should be square, balanced and with straight, forward movement of the feet. Horses walking with their back feet and trotting in the front are not considered performing the required gait.

When asked in a performance class to extend the jog, your horse should move out with the same smooth way of going but with a slight increase in speed.

3. The Lope

The lope is an easy, rhythmical three-beat gait. Horses moving to the left should lope on the left lead. Horses moving to the right should lope on the right lead. Horses traveling at a four-beat
gait are not considered to be performing at a proper lope. The horse should lope with a natural stride and appear relaxed and smooth. It should be ridden at a speed that is a natural way of going.

The horses head should be carried at an angle which is natural and suitable to the horse’s conformation at all gaits.

It doesn’t matter if you are riding in a western pleasure class or a western riding class these same rules will apply to your horses’ movement. It might take you some time if you’re a beginning rider but eventually you’ll be able to count the beats at each gait as you ride your horse.

Practice by watching your horse on the lunge line and counting the beats as he goes around at each gait. You’ll find after a while you’ll automatically see and know if your horse is attempting to be lazy and not move at a true gait.