I like to ID gait just for fun in my horses, not really caring what it is, just wanting to KNOW what it is. And like in hard pace, hard on the frame and hard on the rider, try to discourage by bumping up or going down to a gait milder on the horse's back etc.
But you have to use your common sense too for goodness sake! Like who on any of these lists would say a rack is bad for a horse that naturally racks. But my Jaspar has only racked so few times, maybe 4 or 5, and each time it was smooth but I knew it was hard, it was not effortless and flowing like it is for some, his head was way high, he was straining. On a hard clay road he got a stone bruise from it, his footfall was pounding to me. You could look at pics, show other horses doing it hours on end to no harm etc but I KNOW my horse and I KNOW this is not a good relaxed comfortable gait for him. But if a horse like my stonewall and his saddle rack is just hoping and praying for the nudge so he will have an excuse to move out into his saddlerack which feels effortless and tireless, his footfall light and skippy, that is HIS gait... you know? I aint messin with my horse's natural tendencies to do what they do unless it is harmful to them. as for Jaspar's hard pace, we just dont do it, we dont go there. He has so many other nicer gaits to do as alternatives. He has a nice slow canter for instance, and a downright wonderful stepping pace. and in recent photos maybe even a foxtrot?!? who knew... Janice-- yipie tie yie yo
