The naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse has many walks. Some are smoother than others. How can you tell the difference between the medium walk and the flat walk? Both walks are natural even four beat gaits with a head nod. How can you improve the quality of tempo, rhythm and stride length?

Here are my thoughts…

How the medium walk and flat walk feel from the saddle

For me, telling the difference between the medium walk and flat-footed walk versus the flat walk and running walk is in how the gaits feel from the saddle. The medium walk and flat-footed walk have a lot of motion to follow with my lower back and the alternating movement of my hip joints with the belly sway of the horse. While riding the flat walk or running walk there is very little motion to follow. The flat walk and running walk are smooth as glass to ride and enjoy!

While watching a rider on a Tennessee Walking Horse, notice the rider’s pelvis. If there is a lot of motion, the rider may be riding the medium walk or the flat-footed walk. If the rider is still and the horse’s head nods with each hind leg step, the rider is likely riding the flat walk or running walk.

Many TWH riders don’t differentiate between the flat-footed walk and flat walk, but I do. I have noticed a Tennessee Walking Horse can appear to be in a flat walk with wonderful stride length, even four beat foot falls, and a head and neck nod in timing with the hind leg steps. Only the gait is hard on my back because there is a lot of motion to follow with the lower back.

The flat walk and running walk have very little motion to follow so it is smooth and comfortable to ride. I don’t get a sore back from the flat walk or running walk, but I do when I ride the medium walk or flat-footed walk. While these gaits appear to look the same, they don’t feel the same to the rider. Therefore, this is why I make a distinction between the medium walk and flat-footed walk versus the flat walk and running walk.

What is over stride and how to increase it

The medium walk, flat-footed walk, flat walk, and running walk have over stride. This means the hind leg hoof print steps over the forefoot hoof print after it leaves the ground. For the Tennessee Walking Horse, over stride ranges and if you show your horse, more over stride is prized. As a rider, I can encourage my Tennessee Walking Horse to increase this over stride by following the horse’s motion.

While riding the medium walk or flat-footed walk, I become aware of the rise and fall of the horse’s belly sway with each step. The belly sway is much more noticeable at the medium walk and flat-footed walk than it is at the flat walk or running walk. When the belly sways down, that’s when the hind leg is stepping under the body. If I want to encourage a deeper step under the body to increase length of stride, I apply and release my calf aid at the girth the moment the belly is about to sway down. I don’t apply both calves at the same time since this encourages the horse to go faster, and it shorten the stride length.

If there is no response from the horse, I will apply and release the calf and make a “cluck” sound at the same time. If I still don’t get a response, I will apply and release the calf, make a “cluck” sound, and a tap with the dressage whip on the same side. The goal is to achieve a response with the lightest aid and then help the horse maintain long and even strides with both hind leg steps. I praise my horse for every effort with a “good girl” or “good boy” and a pat.

I think there is great value in developing a solid, even four-beat medium walk or flat-footed walk with over stride before moving to the flat walk. This helps develop length of stride, relaxation, rhythm, and tempo.

In my early years of training my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana, I made the mistake of rushing her into the flat walk. This produced a flat walk with a short stride and rushed tempo. The flat walk was smooth, but not the quality gait she is capable of. Thanks to my gaited dressage mentor, Jennie Jackson who coached us.

Jennie said, “Don’t let your Tennessee Walking Horse flat walk in a tight skirt!”

Lessons with Jennie helped us develop a solid medium walk leading to a bigger striding and smooth as butter flat walk one quality step at a time.

Rider balance and its effect on the horse

Whether I am riding the medium walk, flat-footed walk, flat walk or running walk, a balanced horse will perform their best gaits. If I want my horse to be in balance, I need to be in balance.

One way that helps me maintain my balance is riding with shorter reins. Short reins don’t mean pulling back on the contact or a firm contact. Riding with short reins means maintaining a light feeling of the horse’s mouth with both reins while keeping my elbows at my sides. This helps me stay in a balanced ear, shoulder, elbows, hip and heel position over my horse’s center of gravity. If my elbows creep forward, soon my upper body begins to lean forward, and then I am out of balance. This causes my horse to fall on the forehand, onto the shoulders, and out of balance.

Maintaining my balance helps my horse stay in balance for quality gaits.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

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