What are all the Gaits?

Horses have four gaits; the walk, trot, canter and gallop. Each gait has the horse's legs moving in a set order. The horse's left-hand side is known as their near side, while their right-hand side is known as the offside. 

Quick tip! The Hindlegs are the back legs. The forelegs are the front legs. Hind=back. Fore=front. 

The walk.

The walk is a four-beat-movement, which means that each leg moves on it's own and in a set order. The horse's near hind (left back leg) starts the pace off, then followed by the near fore (left front leg), then the off hind (right back leg) with the off fore (right front leg) being the last leg to go down. 

-Collected Walk 

The collected walk is where the horse remains light and on the bit with even and active footfalls, the steps are shorter but with more engagement from the hindquarters to give a lively active march.

-Medium Walk
The medium walk is where the horse lengthens out the stride and covers slightly more ground than when in collected walk. The horse should still remain on the bit and with even footfalls and with a marching rhythm.

-Extended Walk
The extended walk is where the horse lengthens the stride out to the maximum that is possible. The horse remains on the bit and the steps should be active and even with the hind legs extending as much as the forelegs, the horses frame will lengthen slightly during extended walk.

-Free Walk
The free walk is where the horse stretches down the rein to open out their frame. A light contact with the reins should be kept by the rider.

The average speed a horse walks at is 2 to 5 mph. This is what a horse looks like when it walks:

The trot. 

The trot is a two time movement, which means that the horse moves two diagonal pairs of legs at the same time. For example the horses near hind and off fore lift up off the ground at the same time as the off hind and near fore stay on the ground. On average horses trot around 7 to 10 mph. 

-Working Trot
The working trot is the horses natural pace, it is also the hardest gait pace for a horse to perform. In the working trot the horse takes even steps with each diagonal pair of legs. The horse should track up by placing the hind feet (back hooves) in the imprint left by the forefeet. (front hooves.) 

-Medium Trot
The medium trot is where the tempo (the speed) is slightly increased along with the length of each stride. 

-Extended Trot
The extended trot is where the horses frame stretches out and the length of each stride lengthens out. Both the forelegs (front legs) and the hind legs (back legs) should show even and clear lengthening. 

This is what a horse looks like when it trots:

The canter. 

The canter is a three time rhythm. It is also the most comfortable and easiest gait to ride. Depending on which rein you are on there is either left lead canter or right lead canter. For right lead canter the horses near hind starts followed by the off hind and near fore go down at the same time with the off fore being the last to go down and therefore the leading leg. For left lead canter the horses off hind starts the canter off followed by the near hind and off fore with the near fore being the last to go down and therefore the leading leg. On average horses canter between 10 to 17 mph.

-Working Canter
Working Canter is where the horse picks up its own natural rhythm. There should be a clear three time rhythm and the canter should be active and purposeful.

-Collected Canter
Collected Canter is when the horse shortens the canter stride and increases the activity and impulsion of each stride whilst remaining on the bit and light in the riders hand.

-Extended Canter
Extended Canter is where the canter stride is opened out to its maximum length, there should still be a clear three beat rhythm to the stride with the hindquarters well engaged.

This is what a horse looks like when it canters:

Now there are three different types of riding the canter. There's the half seat, the light seat, and the full seat. For me, the half seat is the easiest way to sit the canter, since when your doing the half seat your sitting half way out of the saddle, causing you to not feel the bounce of each stride underneath you.  In this position, the rider's body is arched forward toward the horse's neck, and the rider is sitting half way out of the seat. Here's a photo of what the half-seat looks like: 

Then there's the light seat. The light seat is a bit harder than the half seat, and in this position, the rider is still slightly arched forward, but she is only just slightly lifting out of the saddle. This way, you would feel the bounce with each stride. Here's what the light seat looks like:

And then lastly there is the full seat. The full seat is the hardest position to stay in while at the canter. In this position, the rider sits deep in the saddle, sitting back, and lets her hips move in a "scooping" motion with each stride. Her arms follow the movement of the horse's neck and her weight sinks down into her seat bones. If you can canter in the full seat, you can easily canter in the light seat and the half seat. Here's what the full seat looks like:

The gallop! 

The gallop is the fastest of all the gaits and is known as a four beat pace due to each of the horses legs striking the ground in quick succession with a moment of suspension in between each stride. When a horse is galloping you will be able to clearly hear four distinct beats as opposed to just three when in canter. On average horses can gallop at around 35 to 40 mph. 

Here's what a horse looks like when a horse gallops! 

I hope you liked this post! :) 

 If your horse is suspected with a health issue, consult your vet straight away.

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