Canter and gallop

"Canter" and "Gallop" redirect here. For other uses, see Canter (disambiguation) and Gallop (disambiguation).
A horse and rider at the canter
A miniature horse at a gallop

The canter and gallop are variations on the fastest gait that can be performed by a horse or other equine. The canter is a controlled three-beat gait,[1] while the gallop is a faster, four-beat variation of the same gait.[2] It is a natural gait possessed by all horses, faster than most horses' trot, or ambling gaits. The gallop is the fastest gait of the horse, averaging about 40 to 48 kilometres per hour (25 to 30 mph).[3] The speed of the canter varies between 16 and 27 kilometres per hour (10 and 17 mph)[3] depending on the length of the horse's stride. A variation of the canter, seen in western riding, is called a lope,[3] and is generally quite slow, no more than 13–19 kilometres per hour (8–12 mph).[3]

  1. ^ Hinchcliff, Kenneth W.; Geor, Raymond J.; Kaneps, Andris J., eds. (2008). Equine exercise physiology: the science of exercise in the Athletic horse. Edinburgh: Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-2857-1.
  2. ^ Rousseau, Elise; Le Bris, Yann (2017). Horses of the world. Translated by Fagan, Teresa Lavender. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-16720-6.
  3. ^ a b c d Pavia, Audrey (2011-02-14). Horseback Riding For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-05114-6.