My proposal now is to collect clips of horses working to organize on this section of the site for us all to learn from. I envision the variations of lower level to upper level and sound to lame. In seeing these variations in contrast, we will be able to better understand movement as a whole. This can be of such great value when assessing your horse and then communicating with trainers, veterinarians, farriers, and the like.
I encourage you to send clips of your horse at the walk, trot, and canter in either direction. I prefer clips that are not too long and are clearly noted.
*Please note that by sending information to me (a well intentioned and honest person) you agree that I may use that information in any media form including any comments or edits I may make positive or negative, right or wrong.*
Once this project has a little life to it, I will change this page to a blog for more interactivity and ability to evolve.
Right now I'm trying out a few ways to make the navigation work smoothly and logically while configuring the blog to do the same. If anyone is watching, bare with me and I'll get it. This is becoming a time consuming, technically demanding format. View the source code :)
Understanding equine movement is a hard won skill. Like anything, it requires a solid foundation of a few basics, but then lots of practice. It is such a valuable skill to have when working in the realm of upper level competitive equestrian sports and therapeutic rehabilitation. The following will relate as closely as possible to understanding movement as it is effected by lameness and/or farriery in general. It is not intended to be all encompassing so as to not detract from it's specific value.
- Swing/stance: Swing phase is when the foot is off the ground. Stance phase is when the foot is on the ground.
- Lateral/diagonal: The pace is a lateral gait in which the front and hind feet move together. The trot is a diagonal gait in which the diagonal front & hind feet work together.
- Back: diagonal two-beat gait.
- Walk: Lateral four-beat gait.
- Trot: Variable speed & style, diagonal two-beat gait.
- Jog: Slow collected trot used primarily with Western & English pleasure.
- Canter/ Gallop/ Lope: Fast diagonal three-beat gait.
- Run: Fast diagonal four-beat gait.
- Collection: Weight transfered toward hind-quarters. Stride generally shortened. Proper shoeing of hind feet can help the horse & rider tremendously.
- Extension: Stride lengthened.
Breed and discipline specific gaits and movement
- Dressage: Powerful and elegant transitions and lateral movements driven from the hind quarters.
- Hunter/Jumper: Smooth and flat movement on the forehand with nice jumping style.
- Gaited: Smoothness under saddle and animation in harness. Proper farrier work requires high degree of understanding and skill of horse and steel.
- Standardbred Harness Racing:
- Trotters: Diagonal two-beat speed gait.
- Pacers: Lateral two-beat speed gait
- Running Race Horse:
- Reining:
- Western Pleasure:
- Brushing: Light contact of the inside of one foot contacting the leg or hoof of the other leg.
- Crossfiring: The inside hind hits the inside diagonal front.
- Elbow hitting: Simply the front foot hits the elbow. Not a simple problem.
- Forging: A clicking noise from the toes of the hind feet contacting the bottom of the front feet. Considered mostly an annoyance.
- Front limb interference: The inside of a front hoof hits the inside of the other leg.
- Front limb lameness:
- Hind limb interference: The inside of a hind hoof hits the inside of the of the other leg. I separate these because there are differences in dealing with front & hind leg interference.
- Hind limb lameness:
- Overreaching: Toes of the hind feet contact the rear of the front hooves or the bottom of the legs at any gait, but usually at speed.
- Scalping: Front foot strikes the hind foot in flight.
- Speedy Cutting: In running horses, the front foot strikes the hind usually between the fetlock & hock.
- Stumbling: Incomplete anterior phase of the stride of a front leg. In other words, the hoof hits the ground going forward and the horse can stumble or fall.
- Toe dragging: The foot (usually the hind) does not come off the ground.
- Winging or Paddling: The foot (usually the front) travels in an outward arc.