A horse has 3 main gaits. A gait is the term for the speed that a horse travels at. Every horse is born knowing how to use these gaits, and, with proper training, they can learn to prefect and learn more complex gaits.
THE WALK is a 4 beat gait that is also the slowest gait. The horses hooves fall in a specific pattern. First, the left hind foot, next, the left front leg, then the right back leg, then the right front leg. All horses walk at slightly different speeds, but on average, the walk is about 4 miles an hour.
THE TROT is a 2 beat gait, it is the gait between the walk and canter. The rider can demonstrate a rising trot which is rising up and down (posting) with the beat of the horse's trot. A rider may also demonstrate a sitting trot which is simply sitting in the saddle as the horse trots. The horses hooves move in unison in diagonal pairs. The average speed of a trot is 8 miles an hour. When you trot you must be on the correct "diagonal". This is when, during the post, the rider is risen out of the saddle when the horse's front hoof on the outside is forward. To change your diagonal, you sit for two beats instead of rising for one beat.
THE CANTER is a 3 beat gait. On average, the speed ranges from 10-17 miles per hour. In the canter, during one beat, one of the horses back legs propels the horse forward, all the other legs are moving forward. The next beat, the horse catches its self on the other rear leg and both front legs. When you canter, you must be on the correct "lead". The lead is when the more extended front leg which matches with the same hind leg is extended on the inside of the horse. To change your lead you can do a flying lead change, which is when you do not break into a trot, but change directions at the canter and the horse switches its legs mid air.
THE GALLOP is one of the more complex gaits, and includes the "hand gallop". This gait is faster than a canter and is a 4 beat gait. The horses hooves fall in the same pattern as a canter. The gallop usually ranges from a speed of 25 to 30 miles per hour.
THE WALK is a 4 beat gait that is also the slowest gait. The horses hooves fall in a specific pattern. First, the left hind foot, next, the left front leg, then the right back leg, then the right front leg. All horses walk at slightly different speeds, but on average, the walk is about 4 miles an hour.
THE TROT is a 2 beat gait, it is the gait between the walk and canter. The rider can demonstrate a rising trot which is rising up and down (posting) with the beat of the horse's trot. A rider may also demonstrate a sitting trot which is simply sitting in the saddle as the horse trots. The horses hooves move in unison in diagonal pairs. The average speed of a trot is 8 miles an hour. When you trot you must be on the correct "diagonal". This is when, during the post, the rider is risen out of the saddle when the horse's front hoof on the outside is forward. To change your diagonal, you sit for two beats instead of rising for one beat.
THE CANTER is a 3 beat gait. On average, the speed ranges from 10-17 miles per hour. In the canter, during one beat, one of the horses back legs propels the horse forward, all the other legs are moving forward. The next beat, the horse catches its self on the other rear leg and both front legs. When you canter, you must be on the correct "lead". The lead is when the more extended front leg which matches with the same hind leg is extended on the inside of the horse. To change your lead you can do a flying lead change, which is when you do not break into a trot, but change directions at the canter and the horse switches its legs mid air.
THE GALLOP is one of the more complex gaits, and includes the "hand gallop". This gait is faster than a canter and is a 4 beat gait. The horses hooves fall in the same pattern as a canter. The gallop usually ranges from a speed of 25 to 30 miles per hour.