THE FIVE-GAITED SADDLE HOUSE. 221 



mark, by imp. Hedgeford, was the Thorough- 

 bred stallion whose name stands out most prom- 

 inently in the history of the breed, as does that 

 of imp. Messenger in the annals of the stand- 

 ard-bred. Development of the gaited saddler 

 has been in the hands of men of much intelli- 

 gence and in some cases more or less wealth, 

 and though the breed is by no means numerous, 

 nor the breeding studs large, it has overspread 

 much of the country, winning its way by its 

 delightful qualities, beauty and docility. Apti- 

 tude to go the five gaits is now a firmly fixed 

 characteristic, transmitted with much regu- 

 larity, but like the speed of the trotter and the 

 high action of the show ring Hackney the pe- 

 culiar gaits -as we see them in the arena are the 

 result of competent training. The get of the 

 gaited saddler will break its step naturally in 

 what is popularly termed a " singlef oot, " but 

 the running walk, fox trot or slow pace and 

 the rack are acquired correctly only under the 

 touch of the master hand. Not only this but 

 when once acquired in acceptable form the rack 

 is readily forgotten or becomes corrupted if 

 not persevered with. 



Five gaits are required of the gaited saddle 

 horse the walk, trot, rack and canter, and as 

 a fifth gait either the fox trot, running walk or 

 slow pace. Demand for three-gaited horses in 

 the eastern markets walk, trot, canter after 

 the English fashion has caused many of the 



