Horse gait. Types of running: from a leisurely gait to a rapid gallop

A horse is a beautiful animal that amazingly combines external beauty, grace and inner spirit. Since childhood, we have been reading novels in which fearless knights, riding on a faithful horse, perform feats, glorifying the women they love. What do you need to get into the saddle yourself? How can you feel the feeling of flight and hear the clear rhythm in the clatter of hooves and the beating of your heart? It is best to learn horse riding skills from professionals, but you can gain some theoretical knowledge on your own. For example, learn to determine the way a horse runs. Understand what a gait is and distinguish between its types.

Horse breeders need to understand the varieties of their running

Gaits: basic theory

Gait is a general designation for all types of horse gait. This word came to us from the French language; in its exact translation its meaning is “mode of movement.”

• Horse gaits are divided into 2 types:
• natural, which includes the main types of gait, that is, walk, trot, gallop and others;

artificial, the development of which requires regular training. These are piaffe, Spanish step, pirouette and others.

Horse riding masters call such a gait as ambling an intermediate one, since it can be either innate or artificially learned in an animal.

The word gait refers to the way a horse moves.

Slow gait (step)

If the animal moves slowly and you hear 4 consecutive hits on the surface, then this is a step. It is with this gait that horse riding training begins. The peculiarity of the step is that during movement there is no unsupported phase.

The walk allows you to evaluate the horse's abilities and the rider's mistakes. Using this gait, the trainer notices all the weak points and selects exercises for training.

• A horse's leisurely running, that is, a step, can be of three types:
• Short gait (short step), another common name is collected step. If we look at the tracks, the hind hooves step at a great distance from the front ones.
• The middle stride is characterized by the imprint of the rear foot falling into the hoof print of the front foot. Travel speed is no more than 8 km/h.

The added step is the fastest. With this type of movement, the trail of the hind hoof moves forward, behind the trail of the front one.

Slow gait is used when the horse needs a rest from fast running

Trotting

The trot is a faster gait compared to the walk. In this case, there is a phase of unsupported movement and two-hoofed diagonal support. If a horse trots naturally, it will quickly switch to another type of gait, since this type of movement is short-lived.

• But racehorses are specially trained, and their natural trot turns into several independent types of gaits:
• Trot, that is, a subspecies of lynx with shortened steps. Quiet trot may not have an unsupported phase. It has been noted that long-legged animals are not able to perform quiet trot, but accelerated or free trot is available to them. Gait speed is from 16 to 20 km/h.
• The stride is a trot with a long stride, at a leisurely and measured pace.

The swing and frisky trot are a subtype of gait that develops sweep and freedom of movement in the horse. The speed during such running increases significantly, and the hoof of the hind leg leaves a mark, significantly protruding beyond the imprint of the front hoof.

The maximum trot speed can reach up to 30 km/h, but such indicators are not available to every horse, and not to every rider. The trot is rightfully one of the most difficult gaits.

Trotting should not be faster than 30 km/h

Gallop - running at the speed of the wind

Gallop is the rapid running of a horse, the fastest of all gaits. Beginners do not immediately decide to increase the pace of movement and go into a gallop. First you need to develop the correct position and adapt to the movements of the horse.

When galloping, the rider hears 3 clear impacts of the hooves, hence the name – three-beat gait.

Types of gallop can also be different. The slowest is the collected gallop, the fastest is the quarry. A natural gallop rarely lasts more than 3 km for a horse, as it gets tired quickly. With training and training, the speed can be significantly increased, and the gallop distances become noticeably longer. The maximum running speed is about 60 km/h.

Gallop is the fastest gait

Artificial gait - Spanish step

How to teach a horse the Spanish walk? Only through persistent and regular training. This type of artificial gait requires the horse to be able to alternately lift and extend his front legs. They should descend smoothly and without bending. The hind legs take normal steps.

Having mastered this step, you can move on to the next elements of higher education. But if the rider is engaged only in sports dressage, then he will not need this type of gait.

Both equestrian sports and regular horseback riding require precise interaction between rider and animal. First of all, personal contact must be established between man and horse. If you want to achieve something from a horse, then don't rush him, and don't rush yourself. Any action requires persistence and training, remember this.

Horses have different purposes: some take part in horse racing, others help people in agriculture, and others participate in various competitions. For each type of occupation, special breeds have been bred, which are naturally closer to one or another craft. So, for racing, racehorses were bred whose highest speed significantly exceeds the speed of others. They will be discussed in more detail.

Description

The leader among racehorses is the English racing horse, but recently it has begun to be called a thoroughbred riding horse. This is due to the fact that now this breed is widespread throughout the world, although it was bred in England.

At the races, these horses simply have no equal. But they are not particularly beautiful, do not have a wide chest, and their color is usually bay or red. Those who bred this breed relied not on its appearance, but on its sporting qualities. Because, as practice shows, it is the handsome horses that take last places in the races, and this breed is always in the lead.

These horses are very playful. They are sent to their first races at the age of two years, which is unacceptable for horses of other breeds. They instantly respond to the rider's commands. During short and medium distance races, the horse's speed reaches 60 km/h. But at one race, a representative of this breed set a real record. The horse Beach Rackit was able to reach a top speed of 69 km/h. No horse of this or other breeds has ever succeeded in doing this.

During racing, this breed is only allowed to compete against each other in a race due to the fact that the maximum speed of a horse is significantly higher than the speed of any other horse. Otherwise, such races simply become uninteresting and lose their meaning.

What is horse racing

Horse racing is a sport where horses and riders compete. Here the maximum speed of the horse and its ability to continue the breed are determined. A horse that performs poorly in racing is not suitable for breeding. Her failures may be the reason that the blood of a purebred breed is mixed with any other.

As mentioned earlier, thoroughbred horses show themselves at races from the age of 1.5-2 years. Horse racing is divided by age and is conducted between horses of the same or more breeds if they are similar in physical characteristics.

There are races in every horse's career that practically decide their fate: the Derby and the Oaks. The first are held both between stallions and mares, and in the second only mares can take part.

Types of horse racing

Modern horse racing is not much different from those that were held in ancient times. Almost all the rules have been preserved to this day. This sport is considered noble, and previously not everyone could do it. The modern elite with great pleasure watches the fascinating spectacle from the best places. Nowadays it is customary to bet on the horse you like.

To participate in horse racing, not only the horse, but also the athlete must be in good physical shape. Modern horse breeders exhibit almost all breeds of horses in competitions. Thus, they select the best of the best to continue the lineage.

• Flat race. Horses of different breeds aged three years and older are selected to participate in such races. Their capabilities should be similar so that no one is inferior at a distance. The length of the distance varies from 1200 to 2400 meters in a circle. What is important here is the maximum speed of the horse and the coordinated work of the entire team. It is possible that in these races the victory will be won not by the fastest horse, but by the team that was able to formulate the right strategy and adhere to it until the victory.
• Barrier racing. Here the race takes place at special distances of 2-3 kilometers in length. Along the entire path there are herdels - special meter-long fences that are placed as an obstacle so that the horse jumps over them and does not touch them. At the slightest touch of a hoof, the herdel falls. Horses that are already three years old also participate here. In addition, the breed must demonstrate excellent jumping skills, demonstrate a high level of endurance and develop good speed.
• Steeplechase. This is a race for the strongest and most resilient horses. The length of the distance is from 2 to 4 kilometers in a circle. Steeplechase also includes obstacles along the way, but more serious than in hurdle racing. Here they are located along the entire distance and can look like a ditch, stone or hedge. The horse must pass all these barriers at maximum speed and not make a single mistake. Horses aged 4 years and older are taken here.

You cannot send an unprepared horse to the races. She is unlikely to cope with all the tasks, and she may even get scared and cause harm not only to herself, but also to the rider.

Who takes part in the races

Modern horse racing is not only entertainment, but also an excellent way to select the best representatives of the breed for procreation. Undoubtedly, the main role in this event is played by the horse, but there are a number of people who make no less contribution to this competition:

• Jockey. This is the rider who controls the horse and leads it to victory. He must always be in good physical shape, not be overweight and quickly find a common language with the animal. In many ways, victory depends on him.
• Trainer. Monitors the physical condition of horses and conducts selection for racing. He is responsible for ensuring that the animal is allowed to participate in a particular race.
• Starter. Responsible for ensuring that the team starts correctly and on time, since a lot depends on this.

General rules

There are some rules that a jockey and a horse must follow while participating in a race:

• Each horse must be weighed 15 minutes before the start of the race.
• The race starts from the stall. No horse is allowed to start from the starting gate unless the judge says so. The general starting procedure includes: opening of the stall, signal using a flag, sound of a bell.
• In case of a false start, the race starts again. This continues until all horses start on time. During the race a yellow card may be shown. This is a signal that an accident occurred at the distance and the race is stopped.
• The winner is the horse that reaches the finish line first and touches the finish line with its head. In case of a controversial victory, the data is checked in photo mode.
• After the race, the weighing procedure is repeated, but not for all animals, but only for the first four. In a race, a horse must not lose more than 300 grams, otherwise its victory will not be counted.

How do horses move?

There are three types of horse running:

• Step. This is the slowest method of movement, which is the initial stage in the animal’s training. In this case, the horse must move its legs sequentially.
• Lynx. The second fastest way to travel. This race is considered difficult not only for the horse, but also for the rider. The horse moves its legs in pairs diagonally. Thus, the so-called “freeze phase” appears. The rider must move in time with the animal, otherwise he will have to experience some discomfort while sitting in the saddle.
• Gallop. Ranks first in horse speed. His legs should move in parallel (back, then back again, and only then the front ones join). There are several types of gallop, but the fastest is considered to be the gallop, in which the maximum speed of the horse starts from one kilometer per minute.

Gait is the type of movement of a horse. Translated from French, this word literally means “way of movement.” Every novice rider must understand the types of gaits, because in different situations you need to choose the safest type of movement for the horse and rider.

Types of gaits

There are natural and artificial gaits. The first group includes methods of movement inherent in absolutely all horses. These are the running styles that are given to the horse from birth. These include:

• lynx;
• gallop;
• amble.

Attention! Some horses are born ampers, others are taught the ability to amble.

Animals master artificial types of gaits through training. They are used in circus arts, as well as in dressage competitions. This group includes the following movement styles:

• passage;
• piaffe;
• Spanish step;
• gallop on three legs;
• reverse gallop.

Natural gaits

Step

A horse's slowest gait is called a stride. This is a four-beat gait, which is characterized by the absence of a hanging phase, that is, while moving at a walk, the horse consistently rearranges its hooves.

Attention! The speed of a horse's stride ranges from 7.5–8 km/h.

There are 3 types of steps:

• short;
• average;
• added.

These species differ in the distance between the front and hind limbs of the walking horse. With a short step, the tracks left by the hind hooves are located at a considerable distance from the tracks of the front legs. When a horse walks at a medium pace, its hind legs catch up with its front legs and are approximately at the same level with them. When it comes to extended strides, the hoof marks of the hind legs are several centimeters ahead of those of the front legs.

Lynx

The trot is a horse gait that is classified as a two-beat gait; beginners master it after a step. It has a higher movement speed. Beginner riders find this type of running the most difficult because it involves a phase where the horse hangs in the air. All her hooves leave the ground at this moment.

A trotting horse lowers its left front leg and right hind leg simultaneously, then hovers in the air before stepping on its remaining two legs. In this case, you can hear 2 clear blows. To feel comfortable in the saddle during this type of running, the rider needs to move in time with the mount, rising during the suspension phase.

Horsemen divide trot into 4 types according to principles similar to the classification of walk types:

• collected;
• average;
• added;
• working.

Attention! Trotting speed is 16 km/h. Breeds bred specifically for fast running in harness, called trotters, move faster, covering a distance of 20 km in an hour.

Gallop

The fastest way a horse can run is called a gallop, which is a three-beat gait. This type of movement frightens beginners, because the animal rushing at great speed seems uncontrollable. In fact, a rider can more easily cope with galloping than trotting; the main thing is to learn how to stay in the saddle.

When galloping, you can hear 3 hooves hitting the ground. A running horse first brings forward one hind limb, then the second one along with the front one parallel to it, then lowers the second front hoof. Then there is a short hanging phase, and then the cycle repeats.

Gallop is divided into several types:

• collected (slowest three-stroke run) – 200 m/min;
• Manege - the horse runs 300 meters in a minute;
• medium – from 400 to 700 m/min;
• swing - the horse reaches speeds of up to 800 m/min;
• quarry (the fastest type of gallop) - about 1 km/min.

Attention! Thoroughbred riding horses are considered the fastest in the world. Their gallop speed is 66–69 km/hour.

Amble

Ambling is another way of moving, which is something between a gallop and a trot. The peculiarity of this “gait” is that the animal alternately rearranges its legs, located on one side of the body, and not diagonally.

Pacers are highly valued because their style of movement is comfortable for the rider. During running, the shaking is almost not felt. Ambling is characteristic of some breeds and is inherited by the foal from its parents. This manner of movement can be developed artificially by training the horse.

Reference. Pacers easily cover long distances, but maneuvers are more difficult for them.

Natural gaits also include:

1. Tölt is characteristic of Icelandic horses. The animal moves its legs in the same way as when walking, but moves much more quickly, and for the rider this “gait” is very comfortable, it does not cause shaking.
2. Paso fino is a fast, small step.
3. Marcha is a type of ambling shown by some breeds of horses in Brazil. For them, this is a natural gait, transmitted at the genetic level. The gaits of the march picada, batiste and trotade are distinguished by their smooth movements, for which they are valued.

Artificial gaits

Passage

Passage is a type of gait created on the basis of the trot, only the movements of the horse in this case are clear and graceful. Demonstrating this method of movement, the horse simultaneously pushes off the surface of the ground with its hind hooves, raising them high. To teach a horse to pass, you need to train long and hard. Good physical fitness is very important.

Piaffe

The piaffe gait differs from the passage in that it has a longer hanging phase. During the demonstration, the horse's hind limbs are tucked under the body, the croup is slightly lowered, and the back muscles are very tense, causing the rider to feel vibration.

Spanish step

This type of gait is the main element in the highest school of horse riding. The Spanish step involves an alternate high rise of the horse's straight forelimbs, while the hind limbs move in the usual way. The level of skill of the rider and horse is assessed not only by external criteria, but also by the level of noise - a skillful horse walks quietly at a Spanish pace.

Artificial gallops

Three-legged gallop is an interesting type of running. In this case, the animal runs using only 3 legs; one front leg remains elevated during movement and should not touch the ground. There is also a reverse gallop, in which the animal moves backwards. This type of gait can be seen in the circus.

Learning to ride, let alone master all types of horse gaits, is not easy. Beginner riders are advised to hone their riding skills gradually - first at a walk, and then at a trot and gallop. Once the rider has mastered the basic types of running, he can begin to practice complex elements and hone his riding skills. All this is done under the guidance of an experienced instructor in compliance with safety measures.

The term “gait” itself came into Russian from French, where it means “gait”. Horses have a wide variety of gaits, that is, types of gait, which experts in the field of horse breeding also divide into subspecies. Nevertheless, in general we can say that the fastest gait is the gallop.

Slow gaits

Fast gaits

The average speed of a horse at a trot is about 12-13 kilometers per hour. However, it should be borne in mind that in the group of gaits that are usually classified as trot, there are a large number of subtypes of gait. One of the options for classifying trot types is its division into quiet, medium and sweeping, which, accordingly, differ markedly from each other in speed of movement.

Finally, the fastest gait of a horse is the gallop. With this type of gait, at a certain point in time, the horse lifts all four legs off the ground and is actually in the air. A galloping horse can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour.

At the same time, however, among gallops, as well as among trot-type gaits, it is customary to distinguish various subspecies, differing from each other in the speed that the horse develops. Thus, a slow gallop, which experts also sometimes call collected, arena or shortened, is characterized by a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour. An ordinary or medium gallop, also designated by the term “canter,” allows you to reach a speed of about 40 kilometers per hour.

Finally, the fast canter, synonymous with the terms "frisky", "extended" or "field", is a gait in which the horse can run at speeds of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour or even higher. It is the gallop that is used as the main gait in horse racing.

Any horseman who is just learning to ride a horse or mastering horse breeding will certainly encounter such a concept as gait. In simpler terms, this term refers to the way a horse runs. Find out with us what the different gaits are and what their features are.

If you sit in the saddle and try to move forward, you will immediately feel how many movements the horse makes under you. The animal has four legs and they all make their own movement and their own rhythm. In a word, this is called gait. Each of its types gives its own feeling of speed and movement, and also requires certain actions from the rider. The rider must not only adapt to her movements, maintain balance, and maintain the correct position.

The walk is the king of gaits

Why is this type of horse movement called the king of gaits, because it does not put stress on the muscles and does not produce any adrenaline? The thing is that the step is the basis of the foundations, horse riding begins with it. It is the most leisurely and does not imply a hanging phase. The average speed of a walking horse is no more than 8 km/hour. However, it is at the step that you can see all the riding mistakes and begin training.

The walk is a four-beat gait. That is, the horse moves its legs one by one. If you listen closely to the sound of movement, you can hear four separate hooves. But if we consider such a concept as tempo, then at a step it can be different. It all depends on how the animal moves.

There are three types of steps: short or collected, medium and wide or extended. The difference between them is clearly visible, especially if you look at the hoof marks. With a short step, the tracks of the hind hooves remain at a sufficient distance from the front ones. On average, they fall on the tracks of the front ones. When increased, the tracks of those in front are crossed.

However, the horse itself looks different at different types of steps. During normal movement, her head is slightly lowered, her neck is extended, her back and muscles are relaxed, and her head sways smoothly. When collected, the horse raises its legs higher, rounds its neck, and “gathers” in the lower back. When elevated, the animal also raises its head, makes sweeping movements with its legs, and stretches its lower back. Free walking begins and ends any workout.

Important! The riding horse's ability is assessed at the walk. Thus, the most flexible and flexible horse is considered to be the one that steps behind the tracks of the front hooves by about one hoof with its hind hooves.

Lynx

The trot is the next fastest gait after the walk. Oddly enough, many beginners call it the most difficult for riding. This is due to the fact that with this movement the horse is already in the hanging zone. Therefore, the rider feels well the impacts of the hooves on the ground. In order to ride comfortably at a trot, you need to move in the saddle to the rhythm of the horse.

The trot is a push-pull gait in which the legs alternate in pairs diagonally. If you listen, you can only hear two hooves. At the same time, the back and front legs move diagonally, then there is a hanging phase and then again two legs. In order to get into the rhythm of the horse's movement, you need to rise above the saddle on one push and lower yourself when pushing the next pair of legs. That is, hover over the saddle while the horse itself is hanging.

The trot also has several types: collected, medium, extended and working. In principle, all these types are identical in their description and type of step. You can also often come across such concepts as training trot and lightweight. But they do not concern the movements of the animal, but the position of the rider. At the training trot, the rider sits as tightly as possible in the saddle, and at the light trot, he stands up at the moment of suspension.

Important! At the hippodrome, a slow trot is called a trot, and a fast trot is called a sweep. There is also a distinction between the swing and the prize trot.

Gallop

Of course, with the word horse gallop, many people immediately associate speed, running, flight, and wind in their ears. However, it is precisely this gait that beginners are so afraid of. Although, when seated correctly, it is considered lighter than the trot. To successfully sit in the saddle while running fast, you need to know the basics of galloping.

So, this is a fast three-beat gait, when the horse moves as follows: first one hind leg is carried out, then the second hind leg and with it the parallel front leg. At the end, the second front leg is planted and a hanging phase follows. If you listen to the sound, then with such a movement we will hear three impacts of the hooves. If you look at the horse from the side, it may seem that he is moving from the front leg. But in fact, it is brought out last in the third measure.

Based on speed and space capture, the following are distinguished:

• arena gallop (up to 300 m/min);
• collected (not leisurely - more than 200 m/min);
• medium (400-700 m/min);
• extended or swing (800 m/min);
• quarry (very fast - 1000 or more m/min).

Which gait is considered the fastest?

Galloping a horse is an inspiring and exciting experience. Especially if it is the fastest gait. It is called a quarry and is also a three-stroke, but very fast. It is important for the rider to maintain proper seating and balance in order to remain in the saddle. Also, often with this movement you can lose contact with the horse and its control.

Moving in a quarry, the horse stretches its body as much as possible, the neck lengthens, and the legs are thrown out to their full length. Typically, this gait is ridden with shortened stirrups to make it easier for the rider to rise above the saddle. This is exactly the position that jockeys take at horse races.

Video “Three main gaits”

In this video you can see how the horse moves at each gait and what position the rider should maintain.