Gaits

A gait is a characteristic limb coordination pattern used in locomotion. Horses perform a variety of gaits including the walk, trot, canter and gallop, which are distinguished by their speed, rhythm and sequence of footfalls. A horse’s walk is a four-beat gait, wherein each foot rises and falls independently. The trot is a two-beat gait, where diagonal front and rear legs rise and fall synchronously. The canter and gallop look similar although the canter is a three-beat, slower version of the gallop. The gallop is faster, more extended version of the canter, with a four-beat rhythm, whereby each foot hits the ground separately.

Gaits are classified as symmetrical or asymmetrical. In symmetrical gaits (walk and trot) the left and right footfalls are equally spaced. In asymmetrical gaits (canter and gallop) the left and right footfalls occur as couplets; the steps are of unequal duration and distance with one front leg and one hind leg extending further ahead than the other front and hind leg. The leg that tales a longer step is called the leading leg and the opposite leg is the trailing leg.

Horses are better balanced if they use a left lead when turning to the left and a right lead when turning to the right. Different stresses are placed on the leading and trailing legs, so horses will switch leads periodically to avoid injuries due to fatigue.