You all know me by now. It was only this year that I discovered that the fox trotting front feet go out somewhat straight. Of course I have looked and looked at pictures of horses fox trotting, but that part just didn't sink in. I think it was last year when I was able to actually see the back feet trotting and tell the difference between the front and back. I started riding the then, three year old Velvet, last year at a fox trot. What I'm trying to get across is that this tape is from the novice point of view!

I thought the tape was great. It covered everything. It covered the fox trot many different times in slow motion with the explanation of what was happening. The tape went on to cover all the multiple gaits that a fox trotting horse can do when supposedly trying to fox trot. Every gait that I have ever heard of and then some that I had never heard of was covered in slow and fast motion detail and this was only the fox trotting gait part. Then we went on to cover the canter and the flat foot walk.

I was intensely interested, but zoned out after a while and went on information overload. I was lucky because I waited to watch it at the Kansas City Regional Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association weekend outing at the great and fun J BAR S trail ride Ranch . I watched it with an expert in discerning what gait a fox trotter is doing. At least he appears that way to me. He has an eye that can slow down movements and see what each leg is doing. I don't have that kind of eye, never had...never will.

Anyway, I got what I was able to get out of it...a really great explanation of the fox trot and the slow motion of it over and over again. The "expert" paid rapt attention throughout the entire video...TWICE! During the 2nd viewing, I laid my head down and rested my eyes at the information overload parts, but "the expert" was in rapt attention throughout both viewings. After it was over, he said that he thought he had understood the fox trot and various gaits, but after this video, realized that he had a lot to learn.

I thought it was a beginner to college graduate course in the fox trotter's multiple gaits. I think if you understand and can see the movements of all the gaits described in the video, you should be awarded a Bachelor of Fox Trotter Science degree...not a bachelor of ARTS, mind you...Bachelor of Science! It is a scientific study of movement.

Later "the expert" showed me an earlier gait tape that has been out for a long time where the fox trotter and various other gaited horses are shown. He was able to tell me that one fox trotter had too long of an interval between footsteps as defined on the NAB tape. He said that before seeing the tape, he would have called that gait a true fox trot. Now he knows that it isn't the true fox trot...So "an expert" was able to apply the new knowledge he gained and advanced his considerable knowledge.

The tape advanced my beginner knowledge to something comfortable for me. Since I don't have that ability to isolate body parts in motion, I doubt that I will ever be an expert...but, at least I know enough to be able to tell if the gait is somewhat of a fox trot!!!

I considered it very honorable for the tape to mention that when these horses are pushed beyond their capability--their fox trot turns into something else and that's what might be seen from some horses in the show ring. I thought that was remarkable coming from the professional trainers who might have wanted to keep those facts a secret from the general public.

I'm glad the tape covered the flat foot walk and canter.

So, on the whole, I was very impressed with many things about the tape. I want my trainer to have a copy as I know it will advance her knowledge of the Missouri Fox Trotter gaits.