| re looking to get into pleasure riding or horse | | | | body simultaneously. The pace stride will be preferred |
| competitions, one of the first things you'll learn about is | | | | by breeds that are used for harness racing and the |
| the variations of a horse's gait. From the mighty gallop | | | | gait tends to be faster than the run of the mill trot. |
| to the loping canter, horses are uniquely beautiful | | | | The Canter - this beautiful loping gait is considered |
| creatures that move with grace and purpose. Their | | | | preferred by riders as its easy rocking motion is one |
| many gaits serve important functions in their | | | | of the most enjoyable to experience. The canter is a |
| performance and the first time rider or anyone looking | | | | three beat movement with a resting beat. In a canter, |
| to buy a horse will benefit from knowing the | | | | a horse will have as many as three legs off the |
| differences, especially if you'll be looking to buy a | | | | ground at any one time. Critical to the rider's |
| horse. Here’s a quick guide below: | | | | experience is the "lead "of the canter - whether it is on |
| The Walk - the most basic movement for a horse is a | | | | the left or right. |
| walk. A walk is a 4 beat stride, meaning each leg | | | | The Gallop - the fastest gait for a horse, the gallop is a |
| moves independently, one after the other with only | | | | four beat movement and the animal will be moving |
| one foot off the ground at any one time. A walk isn't a | | | | with no holds barred. A typical gallop can reach |
| necessarily a slow gait, as a "running walk” can | | | | speeds of 40 to 48 km an hour with the fasts gallop |
| be as quick as a trot. | | | | clocked at 89 km/hr. In a gallop, all four limbs of the |
| The Trot - once a horse starts to move quickly and | | | | horse can be suspended in the air as the animal |
| loses its walk cadence, it will launch into a trot which is | | | | powers forward. This is the typical gait for most horse |
| a two beat gait. The trot is the equivalent to a human | | | | races. |
| jog and the animal will move its diagonally opposite legs | | | | Discovering these various paces can be a thrill for any |
| simultaneously. The trot and the walk are the longest | | | | beginner rider. As you become more familiar with the |
| sustainable gaits for a horse, while the canter and | | | | sport, you'll come to notice the different ways |
| gallop will really only maintained for a short period of | | | | particular breeds of horses move. Find your favourite |
| time. A variation to the trot is the pace. | | | | breed amongst the many horses for sale online, in |
| The Pace - like the trot, this is a two beat gait, but the | | | | trading magazines and for auction. |
| animal will move the legs on the same side of the | | | | |