The Gaits of a Horse
Originally posted on 5/25/13
Bible Verse: Proverbs 26:3 A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.
What is the meaning of the word gait in the horse world? A gait is the speed and pattern in witch a horse’s feet hit the ground. A horse has 4 basic gaits although there are horses that have more gaits and those horses are called “Gaited Horses”. In this creature tip I will talk only about the 4 basic gaits. Western and English riders have different words for 2 of these 4 basic gaits (see info below).
The 4 basic gaits
Walk: This gait is referred to as the Walk by both Western and English riders. This is the slowest gait of the 4. In the Walk a horses feet strike the ground individually. Most times the horse has 3 feet on the ground and one foot in the air. When the feet hit the ground it is a 1, 2, 3, 4 beat. How the feet hit the ground: left rear, left front, right rear, right front.
Trot and Jog: Western riders call this gait the Jog while English riders call it the Trot. The Trot and Jog are very similar but the Trot is slightly faster than the Jog. For both the Trot and Jog, 2 feet are on the ground and 2 feet are in the air at any given time. This gait has a 1, 2 beat. How the feet hit the ground: a front foot and the opposite hind foot hit the ground together. There is a moment of suspension in between and then the other front foot and the opposite hind foot hit the ground.
Canter and Lope: Western riders call this gait the Lope while English riders call it the Canter. The Canter and Lope are very similar but the Canter is slightly faster than the Lope. This gait has a 1, 2, 3 beat. How the feet hit the ground: When a horse is in a right lead (meaning the right front foot is leading), the left hind foot strikes the ground first, then the right hind foot together with the left front foot hit, and lastly the right front foot hits the ground. Before it starts over again there is a moment of suspension. When a horse is in a left lead, the feet are reversed then a moment of suspension and it stars over again starting with the hind right foot hitting the ground first.
Gallop: This gait is referred to as the Gallop by both Western and English riders. The Gallop is the fastest gait, and because it’s the fastest gait, it’s used in horse races. This gait has a 1, 2, 3, 4 beat. How the feet hit the ground: When a horse is in a right lead (meaning the right front foot is leading), the left hind foot comes down first, then the right hind foot, then the left front, and lastly the right front foot hits. Next there is a moment of suspension and it starts all over again.