 The
Single-Footing Horse: Each leg moves independently ---- one foot always supports
the horse! This makes for a smooth ride with no impact, no bounce. Most horses
can move in smooth gait at the speed of a trot, some as fast as a gallop!The gait is totally natural to the horse, which is born with genes for trot and pace, and with the gait modifier gene that lets him extend the 4 beat footfall of the walk up to higher speeds. Many gaited breeds move in a single-footing gait, like rack, tolt, largo, stepping pace and others. More pictures of single - footing horses are on these pages (click on links above): Home, JF Ranch, Gaits. |
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The North American Single Footing Horse Association (NASHA),
is an association that strives to breed horses that remind of the natural, multi
talented gaited horse that was also so popular a long time ago and that people are
looking for again! The NASHA was formed 11 years ago. By crossing suitable horses from existing gaited breeds they are in the process of creating a breed of its own to satisfy popular demand. Registry with NASHA will give a buyer confidence that the horse is a great traveler and has a smooth 4 beat gait which he will hold without much rider effort at a good range of speed. The goal is also to create a breed of horses with great saddle horse conformation, that are talented and athletic enough to compete against non gaited breeds in many disciplines, rather than being suitable for the gaited - show ring only. Only horses who have several generations of registered NASHA parents can be registered without evaluation. All other horses must first meet their high standards of suitable conformation and range of speed in 4 beat gait. A committee views a detailed video of the horse before it is entered into the registry. |
GAITED HORSES THAT CAN COMPETE WITH NON - GAITED HORSES IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES!
 NASHA/Paso
Fino stallion in a cutting competition against Quarter Horses --- ----and
in gait on the ranch. What we like about this breed is the fact that it is a no frills registry for usable horses. They encourage to compete in any of the many different classes against other breeds and non gaited horses, giving a horse the opportunity to prove his talents as a riding horse in events like jumping, reining, cutting, gymkhana, endurance rides, and many other events. It's nice to have a chance of earning points for Annual High Point Awards at shows that need not be sanctioned by the association. It's much more of an accomplishment when the gaited horse can prove himself against the standards created by breeds that have specialized in that event! To complete different categories for lifetime recognition of the horse's talents, a horse has to earn 100 points in each category, one point given for each horse defeated! (gaited classes or non gaited disciplines) We love taking our gaited ranch horses to small country shows for reining and cutting classes, to team penning jack pots or endurance rides, and we appreciate to be able to collect points that accumulate over the years and prove how successful the horse is! And if somebody really put in an effort of showing the horse during the year, the horse can also earn annual high point awards. It's great for people to see that these horses can do much more than gait around the arena! Special sanctioned shows of course offer different gaited classes for NASHA horses only. They focus on the quality of the gait and the range of speed that the horse can keep in gait, and also on natural execution without any exaggerated action. Any artificial altering is strictly forbidden. The horses are shown in their natural state without any attempts to change anything from tail carriage to hoof angle. The NASHA sanctioned shows are very popular and many people, that have horses registered with other associations, try to register their horses with NASHA to be able to participate. To make sure the horses really gait naturally, and to test their disposition for being uncomplicated saddle horses, they have to do a lap around the ring in gait with the rein dropped to the buckle, and also stand ground tied! There are also in -gait races, in -gait 25 mile rides, and in- gait gymkhana events.  NASHA
horses come in all colours. We prefer the ones that show Spanish blood (Paso Finos)
in their proud carriage, ---- ---
intelligence, toughness and stamina,---
--and they have a heart of gold!Check out the NASHA web site, the link is given below! |