Trot
The trot is a two-beat gait in which diagonal pairs of legs move together, with a brief moment of suspension between the two strides.
What does this gait look like?
At the trot the diagonal pairs land together: left fore with right hind, then right fore with left hind. Between the two diagonals the horse floats for an instant.
- Number of beats
- 2
- Footfall order
- left fore with right hind, suspension, right fore with left hind
- Suspension
- Yes
- Type
- Diagonal
More about this gait
The trot is a symmetrical two-beat gait. You hear two hoofbeats per full stride because each diagonal pair touches the ground together. The suspension makes the gait springy. In the collected trot the steps are shorter and higher, in the extended trot longer and flatter, but the two-beat rhythm stays the same.
Discover more
Sources: Hildebrand, M. (1965), Science 150(3697):701-708 (UC Davis) · Wikipedia.