My expience does not bear this out Ed. My half arab,
half MFT uses only a trot, either slow or extended when at
liberty, never seen or heard her gait at liberty . When being ridden
though, she will use either a trot or gait depending on the speed I'm asking
for. The gait didn't come out until she was doing some serious
conditioning, in fact I didn't think she was gaited for the longest time.
Her uncle, a full blooded arab also uses the trot at liberty but will gait
readily for any one when under saddle. Her mother will trot, jig or gait
depending on what mood she's in. <G>
as for not being able to tell if you have a gaited horse or not until you
have it started under saddle, if the horse doesnt gait at liberty,
then it is not likely to do it under saddle. i have two new paso fino colts,
born last month. as soon as they are dried off and start moving, they do
the four beat gait.
