Paces
THE WALK
The walk is the slowest of the four paces. The hoof beats come down in
a clear, one-two-three-four pattern. The horse starts with one hind leg,
then a foreleg on the same side, and so on. There are two feet on the ground
at all times. The walk is the slowest of the four paces.
THE TROT
The trot is the horses' most natural pace, and is very springy. It springs
from one pair of legs to the other. There is a slight moment in between
when all four of the legs are off of the ground. To most people, the trot
is the worst pace to ride in, because of its uncomfortable bounceyness.
That is why Dressage riders have developed something called "posting".
That is where you rise up on one beat of the hooves, and come down on the
other. If you know how to do this correctly, it is much more comfortable
than bouncing around in the saddle.
THE CANTER
The canter has three basic beats. First a hind hoof, then the other hind
hoof, then a foreleg, and so on. The canter is the third fastest of all
of the paces, and is closest to the gallop. Most people find this gait
to be leisurely, and relaxing. It more comfortable than the trot.
THE GALLOP
The gallop is the fastest of all of the Paces. It is basically the canter,
except faster with longer strides. The hind legs are what gave the horse
its speed, by pushing with much great power. Some racehorses can
reach speeds of 45 mph. That is extremely fast for animals that can
reach weights of one thousand pounds!
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