Equine Extension Program

Horse Locomotion

Introduction

A basic understanding of how horses move can be very useful in riding, training, analyzing and caring for your horse.

A gait can be defined as a particular way of going, either natural or acquired, which is characterized by a distinctive rhythmic movement of the feet and legs. The natural gaits which we would see in the wild state are walk, trot, pace and gallop. Under domestication some have been modified and are called acquired gaits. These are the slow lope, running walk, rack, stepping pace, and fox trot.

We can also classify gaits according to how they ride. For instance hard gaited and easy gaited. Both of these are affected by conformation, breed and training. For example, steep shouldered horses are usually hard gaited while long sloping shouldered horses are usually easy gaited.

The breed effect may be seen; for example, between walking horse breeds and other breeds. Young horses are usually rough gaited until they learn to carry the rider’s weight.

The essentials of a satisfactory way of going is straight-line action, long strides, regularity of gait (meaning free, fluid and regular), and briskness of gait.

Each of the gaits have a particular foot placement called beats. The first beat of a gait is always started with the hind legs.

Walk

Characteristics

• Speed averages from 3 ½ — 5 m.p.h.
• Is a natural gait for all breeds.
• Sequence of steps is unchanged in the ordinary, collected, or extended walk

Marker 1 — The walk is a 4-beat gait; meaning each foot leaves and strikes the ground at different times.

Marker 2 — Foot sequence - ex. left hind, left front, right hind, right front.

Marker 3 — Two of three feet are always on the ground at the same time; triangular base of support.

Marker 4 — No period of suspension when all legs are off the ground.

Trot

Characteristics

One diagonal pair of legs are raised before other pair touches ground — suspension of all feet. Period of suspension — longest at the extended trot. Leg sequence unchanged at ordinary, collected, or extended trot. Average speed 7-10 mph Extended 10-30 mph. Believed to be a dominant genetic trait over pacing. Is a natural gait.

Foot sequence

• left front/right hind (left diagonal) — 1st beat
• right front/left hind (right diagonal) — 2nd beat

Marker 1 — A 2-beat, diagonal gait

Marker 2 = Diagonal base of support

Extremes

• Standardbred — has rapid, long round-covering extended trot; used for harness racing; have a much longer period of suspension.
• Hackney — shorter stride; collected, animated trot; higher action and greater flexion of joints with no period of suspension.

Canter

Characteristics

• Defined as a collected or restrained gallop.
• A 3-beat gait.
• Base of support changes from one to two diagonal to one leg supporting weight.
• Period of suspension — is the best time for the rider to ask horse for a lead change.
• Average speed 6-10 mph.
• Natural gait to all breeds.
• Sequence of steps changes depending on lead and direction of travel

Leg sequence — right or left lead, depending which foreleg is leading; in a circular path, the inside foreleg and inside hind leg travel in a more advanced position. (See figure below).

Right lead: Left hind — 1st beat Right hind/left front — 2nd beat Right front — 3rd beat Period of suspension — after right front leaves ground

Left lead: Right hind — 1st beat Left hind/right front — 2nd beat
Left front — 3rd beat Period of suspension — after left front leaves ground

Disunited Canter (Cross-firing)

When the horse, for example, changes from left lead to right lead in the front, but does not change the hind legs, or vice versa. The sequence for this example would be: RH, LH and LF, RF

Gallop