What Are the Different Gaits for Walking Horses?

As a horse speeds up or slows down, it switches the pattern of its footfalls. These patterns are called gaits. Some of them come naturally to horses, while others have to be learned. The basic gaits are the walk, the trot, the canter and the gallop, according to the Equestrian and Horse website. Each gait feels different to the rider. If you're exercising a horse, you'll want to put it through several gaits to give it a good workout.

  1. Walk

    • The walk is the slowest horse gait. It is a four-beat gait, meaning that each of the horse's hooves hits the ground at a different time. The horse starts the walk with its left hind leg, followed by the left fore, then the right hind, then finally the right foreleg. A horse's average walking speed is 2 to 5 miles per hour. When you're exercising your horse, you should always start and end with a walk to warm the horse up and cool it down.

    Trot

    • Faster than the walk, the trot can be thought of as similar to a jog. The trot is the most uncomfortable gait for new riders because of its bounciness. The trot is a two-beat gait: the horse's hooves hit the ground in diagonal pairings -- the front right hoof and rear left hoof hit at the same time. If you're walking your horse from the ground instead of riding it, it should be easy for you to keep up with the trot.

    Canter

    • The canter is a fast, smooth gait that creates an easy rocking motion for the rider. It is a three-beat gait. Horses can canter on the left lead and the right lead. For a horse cantering on the right lead, the left hind leg comes down first, followed by the right hind and left forelegs simultaneously, then the right foreleg. The canter is also known as a "lope" in Western riding tradition.

    Gallop

    • The gallop is the fastest gait -- some horses can reach 40 mph or more. It is a four-beat gait -- each of the horse's legs strike the ground in quick succession, with a moment between strides when the horse is completely off the ground. If you're going to gallop, make sure your horse is well warmed up and has plenty of open, flat space to gallop on.