Gaits of the horse

Most horses have 4 types of gaits. Walk, trot, canter and gallop. Some special breeds of horses have different gaits. For example, the Tennessee walking horse has a special gait called the running walk. Today I'm just going to tell you about the main four.

The Walk:
The walk is a four beat gait.  This means that the hooves hit the ground one hoof at a time. It is either:
Left hind leg, left front leg, right hind leg, right front leg
or
Right hind leg, right front leg, left hind leg left front leg

This order doesn't really matter.

Pic from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

The Trot:
The trot is a faster 2 beat gait. It is bouncier, so riders post or rise up and down to the horse's beat. You can also
sit to the trot, but it is harder.

 
Pic from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

The Canter:
The canter is faster than a trot or a walk, but is less bouncier than a trot. If you are not familiar with the canter, it 
is like a gallop, but slower, and the footfall is a bit different. It starts with one hind foot, then the other hind foot 
combined with it's diagonal pair. Then the other front foot.

Pics from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

The Gallop:
The gallop is the fastest gait. It is like a canter, but it is a faster, 4 beat gait. It starts like the canter: One hind foot.
But then, instead of the two diagonals together, only the other hind foot goes. Then the diagonal forefoot, then the final
forefoot. There is then a moment of suspension.

 Pics from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

What is your favorite gait?
Mine is the canter.
Ella :)



 

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