In 1941 the flat-foot walk of Tennessee Walking Horses was a square, 3 – 4 mile per hour walk using two and three leg weight support and truly flat-footed weight transfer. Head nod was the natural counterbalance. Overstride was only a few inches. Note hoof position on the ground line above.
From 1837 – 1944 the running walk was “as near the flat-foot walk as possible, just a bit extended perhaps, and about four miles per hour faster.” In 1941 the fastest running walk that was accurately measured and verified proved to be only 7 7/16 miles per hour. This gait retained square timing and two and three foot support, changing only the weight transfer to a race walking step that makes the speed increase possible. The horses politely nodded ‘yes’ in gaiat. Overstride was desired but specifically limited to a range of a few inches to 18 inches. Too much overstride proved the horse was pacing, not walking. Compare hoof and leg positions relative to the ground and flat-foot walk above.
In 1945 the “running walk” was re-defined as a 10 – 12 mile per hour gait. See above. In 2009 the same movement has been re-defined as “flat foot walk” at a speed of only 4 – 8 miles per hour. Compare diagrams and note the more lateral timing and change from a three-foot weight support to single-foot weight support. Though two-foot support intervals remain, this movement has no truly flat-footed weight transfer.
In 2009, the “running walk” has been re-defined as a 10 - 20 mph gait. This gait uses a lateral lift-off of the hooves, only approximately even set-down, with a single-foot and two-foot support that makes it indistinguishable from the rack and singlefoot gaits defined as the distinctive trait of several Racking Horse and Singlefooting Horse breed registries. See above and compare each panel down the columns.
