Page 1052 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

1018 Chapter 9

Regular rhythm 3 4 1 2 3 the body. It is reported to be an energetically efficient
gait. There are typically eight limb support sequences in
2
1
VetBooks.ir LH LH each stride, which alternates between periods of bipedal
and tripedal support (https://mfthba.com/education/).
12
At faster speeds, as seen in the show ring, there may be
RF LF RF LF a suspension phase when both forelimbs are off the
ground simultaneously (https://mfthba.com/education/).
RH RH RH The same principles apply for the five‐gaited
Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horse at the rack,
Lateral couplets slow gait, and running walk (and the Icelandic horse at
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 the tölt), when the hindlimb impacts the ground before
the ipsilateral forelimb. The damped vertical movement
LH LH of the body during these four‐beat gaits in these breeds,
LF LF although creating a more difficult gait to evaluate for
lameness, is a desired quality that provides a smooth rid­
RF RF
RH RH RH ing experience. Fortunately, most five‐gaited Saddlebred
horses readily trot and can be evaluated at this gait when
evaluation of the rack or slow gait is difficult.
Diagonal couplets Running walk is a four‐beat stepping gait with lateral
1 2 3 4 1 2 3
couplets (LH, LF, RH, RF) and significant overstep of the
LH LH forelimbs at speed. The hindfeet overreach the imprint of
the front by 15–55 cm in a straight, smooth, gliding motion.
7
LF LF It is the classic gait of the Tennessee Walking Horse (https://
RF RF www.youtube.com/watch?v=usZCp‐nJEYI, accessed 30
RH RH RH January 2020).
The racking family of gaits falls into the symmetrical
Time gaits, and almost all have the same sequence or order of
footfall. The footfall sequence of the gaits in the rack
Figure 9.58. Gait diagrams for symmetrical, four‐beat, lateral family is the same as that of the walk (LH, LF, RH, RF).
sequence gaits performed with a regular rhythm (above), lateral
couplets (middle), and diagonal couplets (below). Shaded bars The variation in racking gaits is due to the timing of
represent the stance phases of the limbs and open areas between footfall, the “pick up,” and the support sequence. This
bars represent swing phases. The numbered arrows and vertical family of gaits includes the rack, saddle rack, stepped
dashed lines show the timing of the footfalls. LH, left hind limb; RH, rack, and half rack. These are known by different names
right hind limb; LF, left front limb; RF, right front limb. Note that the in the various breeds: Fino, Corto, Largo, Rocky
contacts of the LH and RH occur at the same time in all three Mountain Horse, Pleasure Gait, Trippel, Singlefoot,
diagrams. Source: Reprinted with permission, The Dynamic Horse, Stepping Rack, Pure Tölt, and Fast Largo.
Sport Horse Publications. Reproduced with permission of Rack (single foot) is a four‐beat stepping gait with a
Cambridge University Press. regular rhythm with lateral couplets. This gait is similar
to a pace and paso llano as the lateral limbs move in
symmetry. 17,21 The gaits along this continuum, shown in couplets (LH, LF, RH, RF). Each foot hits the ground at
5
the center of Figure 9.59A and B, are usually considered equal, separate intervals (https://www.youtube.com/
four‐beat gaits or stepping gaits. The boundaries watch?v=vKHjWSn44ZA, accessed 30 January 2020).
between these four‐beat stepping gaits are arbitrary and Slow gait (stepping pace) is a four‐beat stepping gait
subjective with gait distinction being based mostly on that is highly collected with a regular rhythm with lat­
timing of foot placement, breed, and style of movement. eral couplets (LH, LF, RH, RF), similar to but slower
They include the walk, the paso gaits, fox trot, the mar­ than the rack. The ipsilateral fore‐ and hindlimbs lift
cha gaits, the various rack gaits, and the running walk 17,20 almost simultaneously, but the hindfoot contacts the
(Figure 9.59). The gaited horse gait spectrum (https:// ground prior to the forefoot. 5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB6FFP7a84; Phoenix Paso fino gaits are evenly spaced four‐beat lateral
Rising Saddles, accessed 30 January 2020). gaits with each foot contacting the ground indepen­
dently in a regular sequence at precise intervals creating
a rapid, unbroken rhythm. When executed perfectly, the
SPECIFIC GAITS IN “GAITED HORSES” four hoof beats are absolutely even in both cadence and
impact, resulting in unequaled smoothness and comfort
The fox trot is a four‐beat gait, with an irregular for the rider (www.pfha.org, accessed 30 January 2020).
rhythm with diagonal couplets. It is a stepping gait with All four hooves travel close to the ground while in
no periods of suspension. The rhythm of footfalls is motion and are lifted equally in height as the horse cov­
9
characterized by diagonal couplets with forelimb impact ers ground. At whatever speed the horse travels, the
being slightly before contralateral hindlimb impact, smoothness of the gait ideally allows the rider to appear
after an interval of ~15% of the stride duration (https:// motionless with little up and down movement.
mfthba.com/education/). The sequence of limb place­ The paso largo is a four‐beat stepping gait with an
ments is LH, LF, RH, RF. This early forelimb placement irregular rhythm with diagonal couplets. According to
and impact causes an amplified vertical movement of the Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA), it is the fastest
the head and damped vertical movement of the rest of speed of the gait, executed with a longer extension and