It's my understanding that gaited horses were originally developed in the south by plantation owners who needed a faster way to cover their huge plantations. Most horses today are used strictly for pleasure riding and the gaited breeds are getting very popular.
That's all true. That's also why we ride walking horses. We do raise cattle but don't work them from horse back. I will say my walking horses are about as cowey as most of the locals so called cow horses. I know a few guys who rope but 90% of the people I see ans know just pleasure ride. I do hunt off mine and sell some for field trial and plantation use. So for us the gaited horses just are a better fit.
