The breed standard for the Walking Horse defines two gaits, both of which are called for in the show ring - the flat walk and the running walk. The Racking Horse breed standard also requires that the rack be shown at two speeds - the slow rack and the fast rack. More information on these gaits is given below in the respecive sections. The Spotted Saddle Horse breed standard allows for any four beat intermediate gait.

Apache is registered both Walking and Racking Horse and can do both sets of gaits. In addition, he trots and paces, as well as doing the fox trot and stepping pace. He doesn't do a hard pace or a fox trot very often, but I have seen him do both. When I first got him, Apache did almost nothing but trot in pasture. However, after working with him for a year, he started exhibiting four-beat gaits in pasture more and more. He exhibited quite a few different gaits under saddle as well, when I first got him. He has figured out by now which ones I want from him under saddle (the walking and racking gaits).

I have always used completely natural horsemanship methods when training Apache. I have never used mechanical devices, weighted shoes, pads, or anything other than his natural ability, consistent cues, and lots of hard work to try and enhance his gait. Sure, I could have gotten a faster or even better result by going other routes, but I preferred to start from the ground up and teach him how to use his body rather than forcing it into a certain way of moving. A great way to teach him how to use his body and how to respond to me, I found, has been doing dressage. The basic principles of this discipline can greatly benefit any horse (and rider)! I am happy with his gaits, even if they may not be perfect or have the animated quality that is desired by some. All of our efforts have resulted in him giving me the best he can, and I think that's pretty great!

Flat Walk

For those of you not familiar with all the gaited horse terms, the flat walk is not the same as the regular dog walk all horses have, although the feet move in the same order. The horse's weight is still transferred from foot to foot by a flat-footed step, just as it is at a dog walk. However, the flat walk is a brisker, more long-reaching walk. It is a four cornered gait with each of the horse's feet hitting the ground separately at regular intervals. The horse will glide over the track left by the front foot with his hind foot: right rear over right front, left rear over left front. The action of the back foot slipping over the front track is known as overstride. The hock should show only forward motion; vertical hock action is highly undesirable. The horse will nod its head in rhythm with the cadence of its feet.

Running Walk

This extra-smooth, gliding gait is basically the same as the flat walk with a noticeable difference in the rate of speed between the two gaits. As the speed is increased, the horse over-steps the front track with the back by a distance of six to eighteen inches. It is this motion that gives the rider a feeling of gliding through the air. The running walk is a smooth, easy gait for both horse and rider. The horse will continue to nod while performing the running walk. The weight is transferred from foot to foot by a rolling step at this gait.

Rack

The rack of the Racking Horse is a bi-lateral, four-beat intermediate gait which is neither a pace nor a trot. It is different from a walking gait in that only one foot strikes the ground at a time, which is why it is often called a single-foot. In addition, this gait has a more vertical action with less overstride. The neck is raised with the head set towards the vertical, dropping the back. The neck and head are held stable with no head nod. The Racking Horse comes by this gait as naturally as a trot comes to other breeds. He is not to be confused with other breeds in which the rack is an artificially achieved gait resulting from special training. The natural gait of the Racking Horse, thus, does not have the same exaggerated or artificial action as you may have seen on horses or breeds of horse whose rack is the result of training aids or devices.

Apache can take cues to do one set of gaits versus the other (walking vs. racking), but some days he's set on doing things his way. For example, when he's excited, it's a good bet he's going to want to rack. When I first got Apache, he could do a great flat walk, but he always wanted to go into a rack if you asked for any speed. By now, he's gained strength and stride and can do a nice running walk, just as well as he can do a fast rack. It's still hard to get a slow rack out of him unless he's excited though. He's come a long way and I've learned as much from him as he has from me. He's been my first experience with a gaited horse and it's been a blast learning how it all works.

Canter

Just a note that these breeds are also known for their smooth, rocking chair canter. Apache is no exception. We had to do a lot of work to get him over his mental block against picking up a right lead canter. He'll pick it up easily now, but it's not as strong as his left lead. His left lead canter has a great rhythm and he's very responsive to speed cues in that direction. As time passes, his right leader canter becomes more and more consistent with the left.