422 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



Rack. -This is a four-beat gait, each foot meeting the 

 ground singly, all the intervals being equal. Hence it is some- 

 times called "single foot." This gait may be distinguished 

 by the ear alone, because the foot-falls are rapid enough to 

 produce a characteristic clatter. The rack is taught by urging 

 the horse with the whip or spurs and restraining by the curb. 

 This breaks up the movement of a slow gait, and the restraint 

 is sufficient to prevent a free trot or canter, so that the horse 

 flies into a rapid four-beat gait. The rack is easy for the rider, 

 hard for the horse. It is showy, and some horses can perform 

 it at great speed. This gait has been officially named the "rack" 

 by the American Saddle Horse Breeders' Association, hence 

 the name "single foot" should not be used. It should be smooth, 

 swift, and without side motion of the body or legs. 



Slow pace. The slow pace, sometimes called the "stepping 

 pace," is the true pace so modified that the impact on the ground 

 of the two feet on a side is broken, the hind foot touching first, 

 thus avoiding the rolling motion of the true pace. The slow 

 pace is a comfortable and attractive gait. Many trainers do 

 not favor it, for the horse easily falls into the habit of taking 

 the true pace which is not a desirable saddle gait because it is 

 rough and uncomfortable. The true pace is the worst gait a 

 saddle horse can possess; the rider cannot rise to it and save 

 himself as in a trot. 



Fox trot. The fox trot is a slow, short-striding trot. It is 

 not so popular as the running walk. It is a broken-time gait and 

 difficult to describe. Some riders, when asked to exhibit the 

 fox trot, simply restrain their horses to as slow a trot as pos- 

 sible, seeking to pass that off as a fox trot, but the true fox 

 trot is not accompanied by restraint. 



Running walk. This is a slow gait, as are also the slow 

 pace and fox trot. The running walk is faster than a flat-foot 

 walk and is taught by gently urging the horse out of the ordinary 

 walk, but restraining him from a trot or rack. It is intermediate 

 between the walk and rack. The movement of the legs is 

 more rapid than in a walk, but in about the same rhythm. The 

 true running walk is usually characterized by a bobbing or 

 nodding of the head, and, in some instances, by a flopping of the 

 ears, in unison with the foot-falls. It is an all-day gait, easy 

 and comfortable to both horse and rider, and equal to six miles 

 an hour or more. It is, however, not as showy or attractive 

 as the other gaits. 



