What qualities of the walk are judged in walk-trot western classes?

The walk is a four-beat gait in which each of the horse's feet strikes the ground independently in a consistent, even rhythm, and the quality of the walk is evaluated in walk-trot western classes with the same attention given to it in all-gaited western classes. A correct western pleasure walk should be flat-footed, forward, and ground-covering, with the horse moving in a relaxed, rhythmic manner that reflects a willing and comfortable horse rather than one that is being held back or pushed beyond its natural pace. The horse should track up at the walk — meaning the hind foot should step into or near the print left by the front foot on the same side — which indicates correct engagement and forward movement. A horse that shuffles along with a short, restricted stride, jigs or breaks into a trot, or requires constant visible rider effort to maintain a consistent pace will lose points in this phase. The horse's head and neck carriage at the walk should be natural and relaxed, appropriate to the horse's level of training and the western pleasure standard of the organization hosting the show. Tension anywhere in the body — a tight back, a wringing tail, pinned ears — is penalized because it reflects either a training problem or discomfort that is inconsistent with the picture of a willing, pleasurable western horse. The walk is the first gait called in most western pleasure classes and creates the judge's initial impression of each entry, making it one of the most important gaits to develop correctly in walk-trot preparation.