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A horse’s gaits are influenced by whether the animal inherited one, two, or no mutated copies of DMRT3, the so-called “gait-keeper” gene. Horses without the mutation generally show the regular gaits of walk, trot, and canter. Heterozygous horses have received the normal gene from one parent and the mutation from the other parent; these horses can still produce the regular gaits but may also show a form of additional “smooth” gaits. Homozygous horses have received mutated genes from both parents. These “gaited” horses can usually walk and canter, and may be able to trot, but are likely to pace, rack, tolt, or show another “smooth” gait in addition to, or instead of, the common two-beat trot.

A recent study conducted in Sweden looked at gait characteristics related to DMRT3 as well as the mutation’s prevalence in various breeds and regions of the world. When the genetic pattern was analyzed for almost 4,400 horses of 141 breeds, the mutated form was identified in some horses belonging to nearly half the breeds. Horses carrying the mutation were found in Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Africa, indicating that breeders have valued the trait and selected for smooth-moving horses over a long period of time.

Breeds in which more than half the horses carry the mutated gene are generally known as gaited types, and these horses are used for both riding and driving. Some harness-racing horses also carry the mutation, which is expressed as the ability to trot or pace at great speed. In the study, heterozygous Standardbred horses showed better canter balance and transitions than homozygous Standardbreds, indicating that the mutation can influence the quality as well as the variety of a horse’s gaits.

The mutation tends to be absent or found in low numbers in some racing breeds such as the Thoroughbred. It is found in 45 percent of Nordic trotters, 98 percent of Swedish Standardbreds, and virtually all Paso Finos. Interestingly, many Icelandic horses show five gaits—walk, trot, pace, canter, and tolt—though not all individuals have the mutated gene. Some Icelandic horses that do not carry the mutation can still be trained to perform the tolt, though it is significantly more difficult for these horses to learn the tolt than it is for those that do carry the mutation.

A horse’s way of going can depend on age, condition, and temperament as well as the skills and methods of its trainers and riders. The influence of genetics is important, but is not the only factor in the type and quality of a horse’s gaits.

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