How to Recognize the Tennessee Walking Horse Gaits
Originally bred as an all-purpose horse, the Tennessee walking horse's lineage includes Morgan, Narragansett and thoroughbred breeds. Having a naturally smooth and steady step, two of the "Tennessee Walker's" three main gaits are distinct and readily recognizable from those of other horses. Commonly ridden with both English and western tack, the Tennessee's dependability and gentle nature make the breed equally suited for both the novice rider or experienced equestrian in the ring or on the trail.
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Instructions
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Observe how the Tennessee walking horse moves its lower legs in only a lateral forward direction during its normal or "flat walk." Unique to the Tennessee walker is the way the horse over-strides when walking, while bobbing its head to the tempo of its feet. During the flat walk, none of the horse's feet hit the ground at the same time, but come down at separate and even intervals with the horse's rear foot stepping just forward of the spot vacated by the front hoof. When performing the flat walk the Tennessee walker is capable of reaching speeds up to eight miles per hour, over level terrain.
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Notice the characteristics of the flat walk, but at a faster pace. The "running walk," for which the Tennessee walker is most noted, is the horse's natural gait inherent to the bred. The Tennessee walking horse can travel up to 20 miles per hour at a running walk while giving the rider a practically "bounce-less" ride. Across several variations, the running walk is identified by the way the horse's hind hoof lands much further in front of the track of the front hoof than during the flat walk -- often by as much as 18 inches. As with the flat walk, the Tennessee walker will continue to noticeably bob its head during the fast walk.
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Watch the horse's line of travel when at a canter. Often confused with the gallop, the canter is a graceful and loping gait when compared with the all-out run of a thoroughbred on a racetrack. Performed in the same three-step beat as other horses, where two of the horse's hooves hit the ground at the same time, the Tennessee walking horse canters at a more relaxed and effortless pace than do other breeds. When cantering the Tennessee walker has a pronounced quartering or diagonal movement, almost as if the horse is moving sideways, but in a straight line.
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Gaits of the Tennessee Walking Horse. To truly understand the signature gaits of the Tennessee Walking Horse, one should review the use and purpose behind the origins of the breed. Founding breeders desired a utility mount that could pull wagons, carts and plows as readily as it would bear a rider in comfort over great distances. They desired a horse that anyone could manage, sensible and willing in mind while hearty in body to provide an effortless gliding ride that was less taxing on both rider and horse; to have the utility of a Jeep with the ride of a limousine. The signature gaits of the flatfoot walk, the running walk and the rocking-chair canter became the solution for both function and comfort. The flatfoot walk. Often called a marching “walk with purpose” the flatfoot walk gives the horse an appearance of having someplace to be. This a walk, much as any horse executes, but with added reach and stride to equal the trotting speeds of most non-gaited horses. A bold four-beat gait, it is executed with released and fluid hips and shoulders that provide both-hooves-on-the-ground rolling weight transfer both fore and hind to maintain an economy of effort while providing a ground covering locomotion. Each hoof lifts and plants with complete independence producing an evenly spaced (timed) hoofbeat. Because it is a non-suspending gait, all energy is used for forward propulsion, rolling from hoof to hoof with no wasted effort for upward loft. The long reach of those hind hooves should always surpass the hoof print of the same-side fore with each step in what is termed overstride. The better and deeper a walking horse works in his flatfoot walk, the greater this overstride becomes, often reaching well over 18 inches in their evenly timed hoofbeats. The Flatfoot walk was so named because of the thundering hoofbeats produced as the marching hooves land flat. The long stride of the Tennessee Walking Horse is what translates the bold, marching energy of the flatfoot walk to speeds of 3 – 5 mph. Because it is so energy efficient, the well conditioned horse can not only manage this gait over long distances, but many can actually recover somewhat at this speed; just one of the reasons why the Walking Horse has become such a favorite with endurance riders. Just as we swing our arms to counterbalance and add power to our walking stride, the walking horse nods his head to counterbalance and add power to his sweeping hindquarters, giving this gait a very prominent and productive headnod that is the hallmark of the walking horse gaits. The deeper their hindquarters stride at this slower tempo the more they are able to counterbalance with a deeper nod. This energy flow from the hindquarters to the head produces the softly rolling front-to-back ride felt from the saddle where the rider is never lofted upward. Riding this gait with a released lumbar region allows the upper portion of the rider’s body to remain totally quiet above the saddle. The running walk. It is important to understand that the running walk is the same fundamental gear as the flatfoot walk executed with greater extension of stride as well as a faster tempo. It should have the same released, neutral topline; the same rolling hips and shoulders, the same nodding head and the same evenly timed, independent hoofbeats. The increased speed of the running walk will manifest only subtle changes in balance, head nod and impulsion as it extends to speeds of 8 – 10 mph. Some horses may surpass this speed but will often begin to lose form as their stride begins suspending and the loose economy of the walking gaits is left behind. Maintaining the rolling weight transfer with no suspension, the marching movement of the flatfoot walk becomes more forward, fluid and rolling as the tempo increases to running walk speed. Where the flatfoot walk is executed with purpose, the running walk adds a sense of urgency. It is the equine equivalent to human speed walking. To remain in correct, energy efficient form the hooves should continue their evenly spaced timing, but will begin to land more heel-toe instead of flat causing the hoofbeats to become less thundering. There is essential tension introduced through the core of the walking horse as his speed increases that reduces the depth of the headnod enabling him to match the faster tempo of the running walk, much as our arms will swing more compactly when we increase to a speed walk. This more compact movement and headnod is what quiets the ride even further becoming smoother than even that of the flatfoot walk for the rider. That same essential tension will frequently add lightness in the fore helping the hindquarters to maintain engagement with a powerful sweeping stride. There is variance between horses that lighten to shift weight slightly toward the hindquarters and those who will remain more evenly balanced between fore and hind, usually with a slightly lower head carriage. This variance is a product of both conformation and conditioning. Both are considered correct in that the core posture, driving hindquarters, nodding head, and forward reaching shoulder all remain evident. The rocking-chair canter. This three-beat canter is similar to other canters and lopes in that it is a transverse gait executed on the right or left lead. The rocking chair canter takes its name from the rolling ride provided by this deliberate and elegant gait. The Tennessee Walking Horse adds brilliance and lightness to the collected canter by utilizing their remarkable stride to reach deep, lift and flow through with the same energy efficiency we see in their other gaits. The one unique characteristic of this canter is that many walking horses, as they learn to relax, slow, collect and execute a deliberate stride will forego the normal aerial phase of the canter to execute a transverse step. This occurs when the driving “outside” hind reaches under to plant slightly before the lead front hoof lifts off. Again this horse is showing us how they can economize their energy by utilizing their long stride and reach.
