dragging the rear toes or taking an uneven length in
stride with the front and rear legs;
d) Correct or average jog – has a two-beat gait, a level
top-line and a relaxed appearance;
e) Good jog - has an average motion with positive
characteristics such as balance and self-carriage while
taking the same length of strides with the front and rear
legs;
f) Very good jog – is comfortable to ride while having a
consistent two-beat gait. The horse guides well,
appears relaxed and has a level top-line;
g) Excellent jog – effortless and very efficient motion.
Swings the legs yet touches the ground softly.
Confident, yet soft with its motion while being balanced
and under control. Moves flat with the knee and hock
and have some cushion in the pastern. Has a bright and
alert expression and exhibits more lift and self-carriage
than the “very good jog”.
82.8 Extended Jog - When asked to extend the jog, it moves
out with the same smooth way of going as in the jog.
a) Poor extended jog – never lengthen the stride and may
appear rough to ride.
b) Average extended jog – moves up in its pace and
appears smooth to ride.
c) Good extended jog – has an obvious lengthening of
stride with a slight increase in pace while exerting less
effort and appears smooth to ride.
82.9 Lope - The lope is an easy, rhythmical, forward moving
three-beat gait. Horses moving to the left should lope on the
left lead. Horses moving to the right should lope on the right
lead. The horse should lope with a natural stride and
appear relaxed and smooth
a) Unacceptable lope – does not have a three-beat gait.
Has no flow, rhythm or balance. Uncomfortable ride.
Horses travelling at a four-beat gait are not considered
to be performing at a proper lope
b) Poor lope – appears to have a three-beat lope but has
not lift or self-carriage. The horse shuffles, has no flow
and bobs his head, giving the appearance of exerting a
great deal of effort to perform the gait. Also could be an
uncomfortable to ride.
c) Slightly below average lope – has an average motion
but exhibits negative characteristics like head bobbing,
not completing the stride with the front leg and leaving
the outside hock well behind the horse‟s buttocks.
d) Average lope – has a true three-beat gait with a level
top-line and very little head and neck motion. He is
relatively straight (not over-canted); guides well and has
a relaxed appearance.
e) Good lope – has an average motion but exhibits
positive characteristics in his performance like selfcarriage, a steady top-line, relaxed appearance and is
responsive to the rider‟s aids.
f) Very good lope – has more lift and flow than the
average horse. Has a strong but smooth drive from
behind. He may bend his knee slightly yet still has a
level top-line while exhibiting self-carriage with a
relaxed appearance. Appears comfortable to ride.
Page 92