Canter
The canter is a three-beat gait: you hear three hoofbeats per stride, followed by a moment of suspension.
What does this gait look like?
At the canter the horse pushes off with a hind leg, then lands on a diagonal pair, and finally on the leading foreleg. A moment of suspension follows in which all legs are off the ground.
- Number of beats
- 3
- Footfall order
- right hind, then left hind with right fore, then left fore (leading), then suspension
- Suspension
- Yes
More about this gait
On the left lead the footfall is: right hind, then left hind together with right fore (the diagonal pair), then the leading left fore, followed by a moment of suspension. The leading leg tells you whether it is a left or right canter. The canter is an asymmetrical, three-cornered gait with plenty of balance and cadence.
Discover more
Sources: Wikipedia · Hildebrand, M. (1965), Science 150(3697):701-708 (UC Davis).