Gaits of a horse

Gait

Pattern in which a horse moves its feet.

Four basic horse gaits

Walk, trot, canter, and gallop.

Gait beat sequence

Walk 4, trot 2, canter 3, gallop 4.

Working gait

Normal balanced movement with a regular rhythm and average impulsion.

Collected gait

Shorter and higher steps at the same tempo; covers less ground.

Extended gait

Longer steps at the same tempo; covers more ground.

Walk

Four-beat gait with each foot moving separately.

Average walking speed

About 4 mph.

Signs of a good walk

Long strides, relaxed back, swinging tail, and lowered head and neck.

Collected walk

Shorter and springier steps while maintaining four beats.

Extended walk

Longer strides without increasing the tempo.

Trot

Two-beat diagonal gait with a moment of suspension.

Average trotting speed

About 6 to 8 mph.

Diagonal pairs in the trot

Right front with left hind; left front with right hind.

Suspension

Moment when all four feet are off the ground.

Jog

Slower and smoother two-beat trot commonly used in Western riding.

Trot versus Jog

Trot usually has longer strides and more impulsion; jog is slower and smoother.

Posting

Rider rises and sits in rhythm with the trot.

Extended trot

Longer strides, stronger hindquarter impulsion, and greater ground coverage.

Canter

Three-beat gait with a moment of suspension.

Lope

Western term for a relaxed canter.

Canter footfall sequence

Outside hind, diagonal pair, inside leading foreleg, then suspension.

Right lead

Right front leg lands last during the canter.

Left lead

Left front leg lands last during the canter.

Correct lead on a right turn

Right lead.

Correct lead on a left turn

Left lead.

Cross-firing

Horse uses one lead in front and the opposite lead behind.

Counter-canter

Intentionally cantering on the outside lead.

Collected canter

Shorter, higher strides with increased joint flexion.

Extended canter

Longer strides with more reach and ground coverage.

Gallop

Fastest natural gait of the horse with four beats.

Gallop versus Canter

Gallop has four beats; canter has three beats.

Collection

Balanced movement with hindquarters underneath the body and a rounded, lifted back.

False collection

Head and neck appear rounded without true engagement of the back and hindquarters.

Rein back

Two-beat backward movement using diagonal leg pairs.

Pace

Two-beat lateral gait with legs on the same side moving together.

Gaited horse

Horse with special smooth gaits suited for comfortable long-distance riding.

Tennessee Walking Horse

Gaited breed known for flat walk and running walk.

Flat walk

Brisk, far-reaching four-beat walk.

Running walk

Faster version of the flat walk.

Missouri Fox Trotter

Breed known for the fox trot.

Fox trot

Gait in which front legs walk while hind legs trot.

American Saddlebred

Breed known for slow gait and rack.

Rack

Fast four-beat gait with each foot landing separately at equal intervals.

Paso Fino

Breed known for rapid and smooth four-beat movement.

Peruvian Paso

Breed known for the paso llano.

Paso llano

Lateral four-beat gait with outward rolling action of the front feet.

Icelandic Horse

Gaited breed known for the tölt.

Tölt

Four-beat gait with the footfall pattern of a walk and no suspension.

Standardbred

Breed associated with pacing.

Piaffe

Highly collected trot performed in place.

Passage

Slow and elevated trot with powerful leg movement.

Pirouette

Cantering movement in which the front half turns around the hindquarters.