Horse pacer: what does it mean and the best breeds, features of horses

Fans of historical books and films probably know exciting stories about the adventures of brave warriors. Perhaps not a single story is complete without the participation of a faithful pacer horse. Legendary horses faithfully served their masters. The famous smooth gait and endurance of stallions greatly facilitated human life. Unusual animals are popular in our time. There is nothing surprising in this, the pacer is a wonderful horse.

What is an amble?

Ambler is an unusual way of moving a horse. In this case, the front and hind legs located on the right side of the animal first come into motion, and then the limbs on the left side are synchronously rearranged.The amble is different from the traditional cross-gait, where the horse throws forward the right front leg and then the left hind leg, repeating the maneuver with the second pair of limbs.

In nature, there are animals that move in such a "parallel" way. If you look at a working camel or a giraffe, you can see the same amble. The gait protects the limbs of these animals from accidental coupling of the hind and forelegs. Nature itself provided a way to prevent injury to long-legged creatures.

The horse story is a little different. The culprit of the unusual phenomenon was a mutating gene responsible for the coordination of the horse's movements. Some breeds of horses have an innate ability to amble. In some cases, horses are artificially trained to "parallel" move.

Distinctive features of pacers

Unusual horse is hardy, and in the conditions of the steppe it is a real gift for the rider.Due to the peculiarities of the gait, the horse does not jump, but transfers its weight from one side to the other. Thus, the trip for a person becomes comfortable, and the horse tirelessly overcomes long distances, running up to 120 km in 24 hours. You can look at the running pacer endlessly. The beautiful, noble gait of the horse is an unforgettable sight.

Unfortunately, horses cannot boast of agility and ability to maneuver. Clumsy animals are unstable and can only move freely in a straight line. Any deviation from the route causes difficulties.

If you want to change the pace of the run, the horse will have to stop first. The stallion is not fit to carry cargo. In the role of a heavy truck, the horse gets tired quickly.

History of Appearance

The latest scientific research proves that an unusual horse first appeared in England. The first mention of horses dates back to the 9th century.Animals got to other countries of Europe and Asia thanks to the conquests of the Vikings. Warriors highly valued the ability of pacers to travel long distances under a human saddle. In addition, the ride on such a horse was comfortable.

Thanks to the amble, the horse transferred its weight from one side to the other, so the rider did not shake. However, during the battles, the Vikings changed to trotters - there was little sense from the pacers on the battlefield. Non-standard horses are extremely clumsy.

Merchants also had a hand in the distribution of non-standard horses. In those days, the horse was an expensive commodity. With the advent of roads, pacers began to be used less frequently. People tried to use horses of trotting breeds as transport.

Artificial breeding of pacers

The first serious work on the artificial breeding of the pacer was done by the Americans. Pragmatic breeders have found that the speed of the pacer exceeds that of an ordinary racehorse.To achieve the result, experts crossed the Norfolk horse with an English stallion. The 19th century was marked by the birth of a bay frisky foal with the habits of a pacer. So there was a breed called standardbred.

The work of growing pacers continues to this day. Despite the negative attitude towards pacers in European countries, American experts enthusiastically continue to work on horse breeding. In the era of the USSR, they tried to use pacers in competitions at Russian hippodromes, but this trend quickly died out. Unusual horses are welcomed in Asia and the Caucasus. In those parts, non-standard helpers are treated with gratitude and love.

Some experts resort to a hard method of turning an ordinary horse into a pacer. Metamorphosis occurs as a result of the use of special straps. The limbs of the horse are entangled in a certain way, in which the horse can only move with an amble.This method is fraught with dangers for the horse. In a tied position, the horse can easily fall or get injured. In addition, the barbaric procedure inevitably leads to abrasion of the horse's limbs.

Breeds with innate amble gait

Real pacers are very different from their "retrained" counterparts. For them, "parallel" gait is natural.

The breed under the romantic name of the Peruvian Paso deservedly enjoys the love of the local population. The animal is used as a riding horse, as well as for work in the field of agriculture. A small horse cannot boast of high growth, but it has a number of advantages. The Peruvian Paso is harmoniously complex, and a real fashionista will envy the density and length of the mane. Strong hooves do not need forging. The owner of strong legs moves with a special type of amble. The hind limbs of the horse make sweeping, long steps, and the front legs describe an arc. Professionals call this way of running termino.
Cuban pacers are distinguished by their unique beauty. A flexible, graceful neck, large expressive eyes and slender legs adorn the bay assistant. The horse is used to participate in triathlon and races. The horse does not shun work in the field of agriculture.
Kyrgyz pacers have an unsightly appearance. Small pack animals can often be seen in the mountains. Pacers faithfully serve people without requiring attention and special care. Horses are pastured all year round.
Kazakh ambling horses. Their ancestors served the invaders during the invasion of the Golden Horde. A hardy animal could tirelessly gallop under the saddle of an armed warrior, leaving hundreds of kilometers behind. To transport goods, the horse was harnessed to the cart, and if necessary, the horse became a source of meat and milk.
Brazilian Campolina horse. A tall short-legged horse has a powerful physique. Hook-nosed strongman is an indispensable assistant for owners of agricultural land. The animal is often used for long horse rides.

Curious facts

Unique horses have amazing abilities and never cease to amaze connoisseurs of the breed.

In the open spaces of Kazakhstan, pacers feel at ease. Favorites of local residents often graze unattended at any time of the year. In winter, with the help of hooves, horses rake snowdrifts and get food. The Kazakhs call such a snowy "hunt" tebenevka. Local pacers have an enviable frost resistance, they can easily withstand temperatures as low as 45 degrees.
In India, horse-pacers called Marwari live. Horses are unusually beautiful and graceful. A distinctive feature of the breed is the unique structure of the ears. The Marvari's hearing is ten times more developed than that of other representatives of the horse kingdom. Animals are unpretentious, they are simply created for life in the difficult conditions of the desert.Most of the time the horses graze on their own. They are well versed in any terrain and always return home to their owners.

Equestrian enthusiasts claim that the horse's running style depends on the weight of the horseshoes. If the front horseshoes of the horse turn out to be much lighter than the rear ones, the horse will immediately turn into a pacer.