Footfalls, strides and suspension
A footfall is a hoof contacting the ground. One complete stride brings the same limb back to the equivalent point in the cycle. When describing a gait, count the distinct beats within that stride rather than every step over an arbitrary distance. Suspension means a brief period with no hoof supporting the horse.
University extension material distinguishes symmetrical gaits, including walk and trot, from asymmetrical gaits such as canter and gallop. This describes how limb patterns repeat across the two sides; it does not mean an asymmetrical gait is abnormal. For observation, choose one hoof as a reference and follow a single complete cycle before trying to name the gait.
Walk: four separate beats
In a regular walk, the hooves meet the ground one at a time in a four-beat sequence. There is no suspension phase. A horse's body continues moving while different combinations of legs support it, giving the rider a rolling sensation. Starting from the left hind hoof, one ordinary sequence is left hind, left fore, right hind, right fore. Starting your count elsewhere changes the written order, not the gait.
When watching a walking horse, listen for four reasonably distinct beats and notice whether it maintains the same pattern through a turn or transition. Do not confuse a short stride with a slow tempo: a horse may take short steps quickly or long steps slowly.
Trot and pace: two beats with different pairs
Trot uses diagonal pairs: the left fore and right hind move together, alternating with the right fore and left hind. In a typical trot, suspension separates the supporting pairs. The two-beat pattern is the rhythm riders follow in rising, or posting, trot. A jog is the term commonly used for a slower western trot; the name does not turn it into a different basic footfall arrangement.
Pace uses lateral pairs, with the two legs on one side moving together before the pair on the other side. Trot and pace can therefore both have two beats while feeling and looking different. Standardbred racing distinguishes trotters and pacers. To tell them apart in a video, look at which front and hind hooves form each pair rather than relying on the horse's speed.
Canter, leads and gallop
An ordinary canter has three beats followed by suspension. On the right lead, the sequence is left hind, right hind with left fore, then right fore. The left lead reverses that arrangement. The leading foreleg is the final foreleg to contact the ground in the stride, not a leg that remains permanently in front. Western riders commonly call a canter a lope.
Gallop is normally described as a four-beat gait with suspension, as the paired beat of canter separates. Its sequence can vary with the lead and form of gallop. Canter and gallop are related, but simply urging a horse faster is not a lesson in recognizing them. Watch slow-motion footage to identify the changed pattern before comparing overall pace.
Tölt and other additional gaits
Gaited breeds can perform intermediate gaits beyond the common walk, trot and canter. The Icelandic horse is especially associated with tölt, a four-beat gait, and some individuals also perform flying pace. FEIF sport distinguishes four-gait and five-gait tests, with quality of the required gaits central to judging. An individual horse's ability and training matter; the breed name does not prove it can perform every listed gait well.
Tennessee Walking Horses are known for the running walk. Different breed traditions use different terms, so begin with the relevant registry or governing organisation rather than treating all comfortable intermediate gaits as interchangeable.
Rhythm, tempo and transitions
Rhythm describes the recurring beat pattern, tempo describes how frequently the strides repeat, and stride length describes how much ground a stride covers. These concepts answer different questions. A rider may ask for a change within a gait while preserving its rhythm, or for a transition into another gait with a different footfall pattern. Accurate vocabulary helps explain what changed without assuming faster always means better.
Use gait knowledge for observation and conversations with your coach. Select a short side-on clip, count one cycle, then compare the next two cycles. Note where the transition begins and whether your first impression matches the feet. A new or persistent unevenness is a reason to involve the appropriate professional, not to diagnose a horse from a beat-counting exercise.
Common questions
How many gaits does a horse have?
Walk, trot, canter and gallop are the common basic gaits discussed in riding. Some horses also perform pace or additional intermediate gaits. The number depends on the individual horse and the classification being used.
Is a lope different from a canter?
Lope is commonly the western term for canter. The intended speed, frame and competition presentation may differ, while the ordinary underlying pattern remains three beats followed by suspension.
What makes an Icelandic horse five-gaited?
In the Icelandic sport context, five-gaited horses perform walk, trot, canter, tölt and flying pace. Four-gait tests omit flying pace. Not every Icelandic horse performs all five to the same standard.
Sources & further reading
We use breed registries, equestrian organisations and specialist reference sources. Registration rules and training standards can change; check the original source for the latest requirements.
- Extension Horses: Horse natural gaits ↗horses.extension.org
- Extension Horses: Horse movement and way of going ↗horses.extension.org
- USDF: How many gaits are there? ↗usdf.org
- USDF: We got the beat ↗usdf.org
- FEIF: Icelandic horse sport ↗feif.org
Last editorial source check: . General educational information; work with a qualified instructor or veterinary professional for individual advice.
