The Breed
About Appalachian Singlefoot Horses
Appalachian Kydd, owned by Mrs. J. G. Betts,
is one of the top stallions in ASHBA and sire to many
of the horses at High Bred Farms, Inc. He is pictured
with his handler, David Shields.
The Appalachian Singlefoot Horse Breed Association, Inc. (ASHBA) was established in 1981 to preserve the nearly extinct diagonally gaited horse. Dr. J. G. Betts, a well-respected veterinarian, founded the Association along with 23 other horse enthusiasts in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. Properly gaiting horses were accepted from various sources to produce the foundation stock. Extremely high standards of conformation and temperament were established in order to develop a gene pool that would be consistent in breeding diagonally gaited singlefooting horses. The gait is natural and artificial training devices or procedures are neither allowed nor necessary. The Constitutions and Bylaws of the Association insist upon humane treatment for the horses and training is through kindness, repetition, and persistence. Through the years, several breed associations have been established to preserve the laterally gaited horses but little effort has been devoted to the rare broken-trot or diagonal gait.
The Gait
The diagonal gait is defined as a "broken trot." The horse breaks up the two-beat trot into the evenly cadenced four-beat diagonal singlefoot in which one foot is always pressed squarely on the ground. The other three follow in a touchdown, airborne, and lift-off sequence to complete the evenly timed four-beat stride (one-two-three-four.) The action comes from the pull in the front and the push in the rear to smoothly move the horse forward with little effort and ensure proper equilibrium allowing the horse to move extremely sure-footed. There is no side to side sway as in the lateral gait and no up and down movement as in the trot. The hoofs are carried close to the ground; there is no exaggerated leg elevation, and no outward or inward swing. When the rider is seated correctly at the horse's center of gravity, there is no energy-expended lifting the rider's weight up and down. The horses are line gaited and cap their tracks - leaving "two tracks in the sand." The gait should not be confused with the lateral singlefoot (broken-pace or stepping pace) as seen in the lateral breeds.
Registry Requirements
Horses out of registered or recorded mares and by registered or certified stallions qualify to receive Tentative Recorded papers in the Association. Horses are not considered registered until they pass a qualifying exam administered by three ASHBA Certified Examiners. Horses may be shown either under saddle or in harness. During the exam points are awarded as follows: 35 points on conformation, 20 points on temperament, and 45 points on gait.
Foundation and Permanent Registered mares and geldings must receive a minimum of 60 points to be registered and stand 13 to 16 hands in height. Depending on the number of passing points received, horses will be registered in one of four grades (D=60-70; C=71-80; B=81-95; A=96-100).
Foundation and Certified to Breed stallions must receive a minimum of 85 points and stand 14 to 16 hands in height. If passed, they will be registered in one of two grades (B=85-95 & A=96-100.)
Recorded Approved to Breed mares must achieve a minimum of 20 points on conformation and 10 points on temperament (total 30 points minimum to qualify) and show no signs of a two-beat pace or of any broken gait. Qualifying mares will be registered in one of four grades (D=30-36; C=37-43; B=44-52; A=53-55). Recorded Approved to Breed mares are crucial to expanding the gene pool and a wonderful opportunity for individuals with such horses to produce gaited horses at a minimum investment. Many Approved to Breed mares bred to Foundation and Certified to Breed stallions have foaled singlefooting offspring on the first generation.