Locating the few remaining pockets of horses with a true single-footing gait was not easy and when found these horses were generally very tightly line-bred or inbred. Outside blood would be necessary. For the first several years any horse with an intermediate 4 beat gait was eligible for registration as long as the owners were dedicated to producing single-footing horses from that point on. The registry is still open but in 1998 horses that running walk, fox trot, slick pace or have extremely long striding or short tight striding gaits are no longer accepted for registration. By the year 2000 no horse that is not an excellent example of the true single-footing gait and of superior conformation will be accepted for registration. The registry has no inten­tion of closing, but will place appropriate restrictions on new applications to insure overall quality and correctness of gait.

Horses were found in the rare pockets of true single-footers, within other gaited breeds where certain lines produced occasional single-footers rather then the appropriate gait for their breed, and from wild horse herds and non-gaited breeds where a crop out still occurs. Needless to say the rare pockets of single-footers dominate the breeding programs of North American Single ­Footing Horses.

It was also absolutely essential to the interested participants in the registry that these horses do not become show horses, but remain working horses. The design of the award program in­cludes a series of checks and balances, which insure that these horses are rewarded for working qualities. Both gait classes offered by the North American Single-Footing Horse Association are geared toward working qualities. No horse in any class can carry a shoe heavier then a trail shoe. Of the 45 categories offered for high points awards only two are show ring gait classes, road gait and park gait. Road Gait is the premier gait class for Single-Footing Horses. Rather then rewarding a perfectly trained horse that is carefully held in perfect gait, the judge will push the horses. We need to see if and at what point the horse's gait will break down, to check for strength of gait, which is so essential in a good trail horse. We are looking for genetics, not training ability. After gait judging the horses are required to stand quietly while the rider dis­mounts, ground ties the horse, opens the saddlebags and reaches in, returns and mounts. Then the horse must back quietly, these are basic trail manners. During gait judging the horse must travel in a relaxed easy manner.

All 45 categories carry equal weight when determining the high point standings for the year. A horse earning 75 points in endurance racing is equal to a horse earning 75 points in a road gait class or one earning 75 points in cutting. Our annual high point horses have never come strictly out of the show ring and most have earned points in a variety of categories. In addition, the ultimate and difficult to attain award of "Premier Champion" requires at lease 100 points in at least one of these trail categories; organized trail rides, competitive trail, endurance or organized harness rides. We are determined to produce and reward the ultimate gaited trail and ranch horse.