Horsemanship Training: Basic Gaits of the Horse

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Horsemanship TrainingBasic Gaits of the Horse
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Walk
Walk The walk is a natural 4-beat movement. The horse always has two or three hooves on the ground. The walk is the slowest natural gait, it is the steadiest and most comfortable. The horse lifts his hooves as follows Walk The walk is a natural 4-beat movement. The horse always has two or three hooves on the ground. The walk is the slowest natural gait, it is the steadiest and most comfortable. The horse lifts his hooves as follows Walk The walk is a natural 4-beat movement. The horse always has two or three hooves on the ground. The walk is the slowest natural gait, it is the steadiest and most comfortable. The horse lifts his hooves as follows
             (1st beat) right hind leg (2nd beat) right fore leg (3rd beat) left hind leg (4th beat) left fore leg
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Trot (Jog)
Trot The trot is a steady 2-beat movement. Since the trot has two beats each stride and a moment in mid-air, it is more comfortable for the rider (and the horse) to rise up and down every-other beat (this is called "posting"). The horse lifts his hooves as follows Trot The trot is a steady 2-beat movement. Since the trot has two beats each stride and a moment in mid-air, it is more comfortable for the rider (and the horse) to rise up and down every-other beat (this is called "posting"). The horse lifts his hooves as follows Trot The trot is a steady 2-beat movement. Since the trot has two beats each stride and a moment in mid-air, it is more comfortable for the rider (and the horse) to rise up and down every-other beat (this is called "posting"). The horse lifts his hooves as follows
             (1st beat) right fore / left hind (2nd beat) left fore / right hind
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Canter (Lope)
Canter The canter is a 3-beat movement. Before learning to canter, make sure your balance and rhythm stays consistent with the horse during the trot. The horse lifts his hooves as follows Canter The canter is a 3-beat movement. Before learning to canter, make sure your balance and rhythm stays consistent with the horse during the trot. The horse lifts his hooves as follows Canter The canter is a 3-beat movement. Before learning to canter, make sure your balance and rhythm stays consistent with the horse during the trot. The horse lifts his hooves as follows
             The Right-Lead Canter (1st beat) left hind leg (2nd beat) right hind / left fore (3rd beat) right fore leg
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Gallop
Gallop The gallop is a 4-beat movement. This gait is similar to the canter, but the horse's legs move one at a time. The gallop feels just like a fast canter. When riding the gallop, raise your seat slightly out of the saddle, putting your weight in your heels. Before attempting to gallop, you must be able to control the horse 100 and be able to ride all other gaits in balance. The horse lifts his hooves as follows Gallop The gallop is a 4-beat movement. This gait is similar to the canter, but the horse's legs move one at a time. The gallop feels just like a fast canter. When riding the gallop, raise your seat slightly out of the saddle, putting your weight in your heels. Before attempting to gallop, you must be able to control the horse 100 and be able to ride all other gaits in balance. The horse lifts his hooves as follows Gallop The gallop is a 4-beat movement. This gait is similar to the canter, but the horse's legs move one at a time. The gallop feels just like a fast canter. When riding the gallop, raise your seat slightly out of the saddle, putting your weight in your heels. Before attempting to gallop, you must be able to control the horse 100 and be able to ride all other gaits in balance. The horse lifts his hooves as follows
             The Right-Lead Gallop (1st beat) left hind leg (2nd beat) right hind leg (3rd beat) left fore leg (4th beat) right fore leg
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Words to Remember

• Lead The term "lead" is used to tell which fore
  leg of the horse is farther forward (leading).
  This term is used only in the canter and gallop.
  A horse is on his "left lead" when his left fore
  leg is leading and on his "right lead" when his
  right fore leg is leading.
• Posting The term "posting" is used to describe
  the up-and-down pattern of the trot. When you
  post, you raise out of the saddle for one beat,
  and sit down in the saddle for one beat. This
  pattern usually creates a more comfortable trot
  for both the horse and rider. Diagonal The
  term "diagonal" refers to which fore leg is
  moving forward while you are in the up position
  of the posting trot. You should always be in the
  up position of the posting trot when the horse's
  outside fore leg (closest to the arena wall) is
  farther forward.

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Lets review!
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What are the four basic gaits?

• ANSWER
• 1. Walk
• 2. Trot
• 3. Canter
• 4. Gallop

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What gait is this? Say the name used both
English and Western riding?

• ANSWER
• Canter in English Lope in Western

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How many beats does the walk have?

• ANSWER
• 4 beats

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What does posting mean?

• ANSWER The up-and-down pattern of the trot.