The North American Single-Footing Horse Association definition
of "single-footing".
"What makes the single-footing gait unique?
Ideally the gait is an intermediate 4 beat gait and is very near even in
timing. It can be performed at a huge range of speeds. From a relaxed trail
speed of 7 to 9 mph, to a ground eating road gait speed of 12 to 15 mph, to the
breathtaking racing single-foot (and the speed at which the name
"single-footing" comes from) of over 20 mph. At the fastest speeds these horses
will be traveling with one foot on the ground at a time, thus the name
"single-footing". Some horses will start single-footing at a road gait speed
and others at racing speed. Either is correct. While the ideal horse will
remain as close as possible to even timing at all speeds, the reality is that
at top speeds these horses tend toward a more lateral timing. We do not want to
see horses that are near a dead pace at speed and do not consider this
single-footing. Speed is characteristic of this gait, but speed at the
intermediate gait for the sake of speed with improper form is not a goal. This
makes for a weak gaited saddle horse and that is exactly what NASHA wants to
avoid." "Locating the few remaining pockets of horses with a true
single-footing gait was not easy. When found, these horses were generally very
tightly line-bred. Outside blood was necessary. For the first several years any
horse with an intermediate 4 beat gait was eligible for registration as long as
the owners were dedicated to producing single-footing horses from that point
on. The registry is still open but in 1998 horses that running walk, fox trot,
slick pace or have extremely long striding or short tight striding gaits are no
longer accepted for registration. The registry will place appropriate
restrictions on new applications to insure overall quality and correctness of
gait."
Barbara Bouray, founder, North American Single-Footing Horse
Association, November, 2004 |
