From AQHA rule book.

GAITS

1. THE WALK:
   The walk is a natural, flat footed, four beat gait. The horse must move straight and true at the walk. The walk must be alert, with a stride of reasonable length in keeping with the size of the horse.
2. THE JOG:
   The jog is a smooth, ground covering two beat diagonal gait. The horse works from one pair of diagonals to the other pair. The jog should be square, balanced and with straight, forward movement of the feet. Horses walking with their back feet and trotting in the front are not considered performing the required gait. When asked to extend the jog, it moves out with the same smooth way of going.
3. THE LOPE:
   The lope is an easy, rhythmical, forward moving three beat gait. Horses moving to the left should lope on the left lead. Horses moving to the right should lope on the right lead. Horses travelling at a four beat gait are not considered to be performing at a proper lope. The horse should lope with a natural stride and appear relaxed and smooth. It should be ridden at a speed which is a natural way of going. The head should be carried at an angle which is natural and suitable to the horse’s conformation at all gaits

About the Ballarat and District Quarter Horse Association inc

In 1992 some very enthusiastic western performance riders got together and formed the Ballarat and District Western Performance Club. Then on the 5th of July 1993, the club became incorporated and was renamed the Ballarat and District Quarter Horse Association.

The aim of the BDQHA is to promote the Quarter Horse breed in all facets of western performance. Plus, introduce new members to the western riding world, to help them learn more about horses and to give people the opportunity to have a great time learning.

The BDQHA is a spectator and competitor friendly club who welcome anyone who wishes to participate in any way. You do not have to own a Quarter Horse to compete in any of the ridden events. These events include Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Trail, Reining, Western Riding, Hunter Under Saddle, and Hunt Seat Equitation. These events are divided into Open, Youth, Amateur Owner, Select Amateur and Improver.

We also have halter classes for Appaloosa’s, Paints, Spotted Ponies, Paint Bred Horses and Unregistered Horses.
During the show season we hold monthly ‘A’ class shows at our home base Ballarat Pony Club Grounds. We also have clinics and fun days. Our annual ‘AA’ show the Goldfields Spectacular was first held at Werribee in 2001 and was one of the largest shows held that year. Each year this event grows and improves and is BDQHA’s ‘prestigious’ event for the show calendar.

BDQHA is a club with members from Youth to over 50’s, who all embrace the western style of riding and competing.  As the club moves forward into the future the committee is always striving to provide more for the western horse enthusiast.