Gallop
The gallop is the fastest gait: an asymmetrical four-beat gait in which each leg lands separately, followed by a moment of suspension.
What does this gait look like?
The gallop resembles the canter but is faster and more stretched out. The diagonal pair breaks apart, so you hear four separate hoofbeats instead of three.
- Number of beats
- 4 (asymmetric)
- Footfall order
- right hind, left hind, right fore, left fore, then suspension
- Suspension
- Yes
More about this gait
On the left lead the footfall is: right hind, left hind, right fore, left fore, followed by a moment of suspension with all legs off the ground. It is an asymmetrical four-beat gait; racehorses reach their highest speeds with it.
Discover more
Sources: Wikipedia · Hildebrand, M. (1965), Science 150(3697):701-708 (UC Davis).