| THE HORSE GAITS |
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| The Walk: |
| It is a slow flat footed gait with four beats. (approx 1.5 - 2 km/h). It is easy to ride and easiest gait for any horse. Horses should walk calmly with long strides. It is a good warmup gait as well as cooling down. An energetic walk will build up the horses muscles. |
| The Trot/Jog: |
| It is a two beat gait (approx 3 km/h). The diagonal legs move and hit the ground together as a pair. Horses head should remain still at the trot. Troting is a great excercising gait for both horse and rider.Trot covers the most ground and tiring the horse the least, therefore it is used for long distance riding. |
| It is a three beat gait (approx 4-5 km/h). Movement is like a rocking horse and the rider should seat deep, relaxed in the seat and follow the horses movement. In the left lead the left front hoof is the leading leg and in the right lead the right front hoof is the leading leg. |
| The Canter/Lope: |
| It is like the fast canter, but has four beats instead of three. A riding horse should not be riden faster than a hand gallop. It has long suspension and covers ground as fast as 40km/h! |
| The Gallop: |
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