A soft gait is a term used in equestrian circles to describe a smooth, fluid, and comfortable movement that a horse exhibits while travelling. The term encompasses both the natural mechanics of a horse’s stride and the quality of that stride — whether it absorbs movement well, is easy to sit to, and feels pleasant for the rider. Understanding what makes a gait “soft” helps riders recognise quality movement and make better-informed decisions about training, breeding, and horse selection.
What Makes a Gait Soft?
A soft gait is characterised by:
- Swing through the back — a horse that moves freely through its topline absorbs its own movement through the muscles of the back rather than transmitting impact rigidly upward through its legs into the rider. A tense or tight back produces a jarring, uncomfortable ride even at walk.
- Relaxation — tension in any part of the horse’s body — the neck, jaw, shoulders, or hindquarters — stiffens the gaits. A genuinely relaxed horse moves with an elasticity that feels smooth and easy to sit to.
- Rhythm and regularity — gaits that are irregular or that rush are inherently less soft. An even, rhythmical stride allows the rider to follow the movement predictably.
- Engagement — a horse that engages its hindquarters properly carries more of its weight from behind, which lightens the forehand and produces a more uphill, floating quality to the movement.
Soft Gaits and Breed Characteristics
Some breeds are specifically valued for their naturally soft gaits. Several horse breeds produce four-beat gaits — sometimes called “ambling gaits” — that are significantly smoother to ride than the standard three-beat walk, two-beat trot, and three-beat canter:
- Icelandic Horse — performs the tölt, a natural four-beat ambling gait that can be ridden at speed with extraordinary smoothness. Many Icelandics also perform the flying pace, a two-beat lateral gait.
- Paso Fino — famous for its naturally lateral four-beat gait (the paso fino, paso corto, and paso largo), described as incredibly smooth and comfortable even at speed.
- Tennessee Walking Horse — known for its distinctive “running walk,” a smooth, overstride four-beat gait that makes it popular for trail riding and long distance riding.
- Peruvian Paso — similarly produces a natural ambling gait called the paso llano, prized for its smoothness on difficult terrain.
These gaited breeds are particularly valued by riders who cannot comfortably absorb the impact of a standard trot, including those with back problems, older riders, or those covering long distances in the saddle. See the full entry on Icelandic Horses for more on gaited breeds.
Soft Gaits in Sport Horses
In sport horses, a soft gait is often described in terms of the quality of the trot and canter. A horse with a naturally swinging, elastic trot — sometimes called a “warm back” — is more pleasant to ride and often more trainable than one with a stiff, “cold” movement. Breeders of competition warmbloods place significant value on elasticity and swing in movement, and it is a major criterion in stallion licensing and mare grading.
Riders developing their horses through the BHS scales of training — rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection — are working systematically towards softer, more fluid gaits. Suppleness in particular is the key scale element that directly addresses the quality and softness of movement. As a horse becomes more supple through correct training, its gaits typically become measurably softer and more enjoyable to ride.
Assessing Softness of Gait When Buying
When assessing a horse for purchase, the softness of the gaits is one of the most important factors to feel from the saddle — particularly for leisure riders or those who intend to do significant time in the saddle. A short trot on the lunge tells you a great deal about a horse’s natural movement, but sitting on it at walk and trot over ten or fifteen minutes will tell you even more about how it absorbs movement and whether it suits your body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can training make a naturally stiff horse’s gaits softer?
Yes, significantly. Correct training — particularly work that develops suppleness through transitions, lateral exercises, and stretching work — can dramatically improve the softness of a horse’s gaits. A horse that is stiff and uncomfortable to ride as a four-year-old may be a pleasure to ride at eight after correct development. However, there are limits: a horse with a naturally jarring, upright trot due to conformation will never move like a warmblood, regardless of training.
What is the difference between a soft gait and a gaited horse?
A gaited horse is one that naturally produces an additional ambling gait beyond the standard walk, trot, and canter — such as the tölt of the Icelandic Horse. A soft gait refers more broadly to the quality of any gait — its smoothness, swing, and comfort. A non-gaited horse can absolutely have a soft, comfortable trot, and a gaited horse’s ambling gait can vary in smoothness depending on training and relaxation.
Does saddle fit affect the softness of the gait?
Absolutely. A poorly fitting saddle that creates pressure or restricts the horse’s back will cause tension and stiffness, directly reducing the softness of the gaits. Correct saddle fit — ensuring the saddle does not pinch, bridge, or rock — is one of the most effective ways to improve a horse’s way of going without any additional training.