I think the picture below shows a more complete detail of the Paso Fino gait. The "sounds" Ta - Ca - Ta - Ca are separated because each sound (either Ta or Ca) occurs when each leg hits a hard surface.
Source: Book, "Science and Art of the Paso Fino Horse", by Diego Bravo. Copyright 2007.
Paso Fino is the smoothest gait a horse can perform on Earth due to it is iso-chronic (evenly alternated). It means that if the horse takes, for instance, the sixth of a second to move the leg 2 after leg 1, it will take the sixth of a second to move the leg 3 after leg 2, and so on. After leg 4 is moved a new similar cycle of the gait starts with leg 1.
Last edited by Bravo on Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:55 pm
Bravo
Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Ocala's School of Equestrian Art
Now, to understand the mechanics of the four legs in Paso Fino gait, it is important to see the whole movement of just one leg. The picture below shows two phases (elevation and advance) and the maximum levels of those phases (maximum elevation and support).
Source: Book, "Science and Art of the Paso Fino Horse", by Diego Bravo. Copyright 2007.
With this in mind, let's see the four legs working together. Below are pictures of the eight-stage sequence of the Paso Fino gait: There are four supports on three legs, two lateral supports (one on the left side legs and the other on the right side legs), and two diagonal supports, all of them alternated. See the pictures:
Three legs on the ground and only the right hind leg is up.
The horse supports on the left side legs, the right hind leg is in advance and the right front leg is in elevation (which means that was moved after the hind leg of the same side).
Three legs on the ground. Only the right front leg is up.
A diagonal pair of legs is on the ground. The right front leg is in advance and the left hind leg is in elevation.
Three legs on the ground (after the right front leg is on the ground). Only the left hind leg is up (in maximum elevation). Note the left front leg is too far behind the right front leg, which means that the left front leg has to be elevated next.
The horse supports on the right side legs. The left hind leg is in advance and the left front leg is in elevation (which means that was moved after the hind leg of the same side).
Three legs on the ground. Only the left front leg is up.
A diagonal pair of legs is on the ground. The left front leg is in advance and the right hind leg is in elevation.
Then, due to a new cycle of gait starts, the first of the eight pictures above continues the sequence.
Note: In the pictures, Mrs. Debbie Kolody, a student of Ocala's School of Equestrian Art, riding Sucesor de Expresso, owned by Mildred Arent/Criadero Aristocratica.
Source: Book, "Science and Art of the Paso Fino Horse", by Diego Bravo. Copyright 2007.
Last edited by Bravo on Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:09 pm
BigJ
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 1038
Well done! Thanks for the explanation.
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