Gaits Flashcards by sarah carlson

What is the average length of stride in the trot?

8-9 feet

Source: Equine Science, Griffiths, p. 72

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Define transition in regards to gaits.

A change from one gait to another

Source: MN 4-H Horsemanship and Horse Training Manual, p. 36

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What is pounding?

Hitting the ground hard in stride

Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 18 / The Horse, Evans, p. 181

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At which gaits will lameness be most noticeable?

Walk, Trot

Source: Horse Science (National 4-H Council), p. 12

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What can happen if the pastern is too straight?

It does not cushion the shock of the foot striking the ground and can lead to serious damage as well as a rough ride

(Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 11)

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A horse which can both trot and pace with good speed is known as what?

Double gaited

Source: Horses and Horsemanship, Ensminger, p. 517

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This is the horse’s most useful gait and is called the “mother of all gaits”.

Walk

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 172

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What is the term used to describe the rhythmic characteristic movements of a horse’s feet and legs?

Gaits

Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17

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Name three natural gaits of the horse.

Walk, Trot (jog), Canter (lope)

Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17

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What is a slow, natural, flat-footed, 4-beat gait where each foot strikes the ground independently from the other three feet?

Walk

Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17

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Describe the sequence of hoof beats in the walk after the horse is in motion.

Right fore, left rear, left fore, right rear

Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17

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Toeing out and base narrow usually cause what irregularity in the way of traveling?

Winging

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 151

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What term describes excessive lateral shoulder motion characteristic of horses with protruding shoulders?

Rolling

Source: Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 236

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Which gait of the horse is known as the most useful gait and has been termed the “nearly ideal form of locomotion”?

The walk

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 172

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Which of the following are artificial gaits: trot, slow gait, canter?

Slow gait

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 178

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Name the fast, flashy, four-beat gait, also known as the single foot, which is free from any pacing motion?

Rack

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 40

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What is the term when a twisting of the striding leg around the supporting leg in such a manner that the horse looks like it is tightrope walking?

Winding or rope-walking

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 181

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Describe paddling.

Throwing the front feet outward during the stride

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 181 / Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 201

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Define cross-firing.

Hind foot on one side strikes the diagonal forefoot (forging in the pacing horse)

(Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 179)

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A slow to medium-fast, collected canter exhibited in Western classes is called what?

Lope

Source: Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 172

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Define lateral gait & give an example.

Legs & feet move in lateral pairs. Example: Pace

Source: Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 165

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What is a natural gait?

One that’s pattern is distinct and is a commonly occurring gait

(Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 171)

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Which gait is a distinguishing characteristic of the Tennessee Walking Horse?

Running walk

Source: AYHC Horse Industry Handbook, 172B-1

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What is the name for a fast, 4-beat ground-covering walk?

Running walk

Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 178

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What movement is important for opening gates?

Sidepass | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 23

What is the last foot to hit the ground in the canter when on the right lead?

Right front | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175

At the canter or lope, what do you call the independently moving leg?

Lead | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175

What is a diagonal gait?

Front foot and opposite hind foot start & stop at the same time. (legs move in diagonal pairs in performing gait) Example: Trot (Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 173)

How many beats are there to the running walk of a Tennessee Walking Horse?

4 | Source: Horses and Horsemanship, Ensminger, p. 75 / The Horse, Evans, p. 178

What is another name for the slow trot?

Jog | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175

What gait is an easy, rhythmical, 3-beat gait?

Canter | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175

Describe the movement of the pace.

Front & hind feet on the same side start & stop at the same time (Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175 / Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 201)

What is another name for sidestep?

Traverse | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 18

Striking the ground hard in stride is called what?

Pounding | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 181 / Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 219

What is another name for the gallop?

Run | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 176

Which gait is a rapid, 2-beat, diagonal gait?

Trot | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 173

In the trot, one set of diagonal hooves is on the ground then the other set of diagonal hooves is on the ground; what is the next move?

All 4 hooves are off the ground for a moment | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 174

How many natural gaits does the horse have?

Three | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 171

The distance from imprint to imprint by a horse's foot is called what?

Stride | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 169

If a horse is "forging", what is he doing?

Striking the forefoot with the toe of the hindfoot | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 179 / AYHC Horse Industry Handbook, 525-4

What is it called when the hairline at the top of the hind foot hits the toe of the forefoot as it breaks over?

Scalping | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 180

How does a pigeon-toed horse travel?

Front feet will paddle or wing out when they are picked up | Source: AYHC Horse Industry Handbook, 230-5

What type of defect does a horse have if he dishes or wings in when he travels?

Toed-out or Base-wide | Source: AYHC Horse Industry Handbook, 230-5

What is the term used for a short, quick, choppy stride?

Trappy | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 181

Define action.

How a horse moves at all gaits | Source: Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 3

What is the term used to describe a noticeable pause in the flight of the foot - as though the stride were completed before the foot reaches the ground?

Floating (dwelling) | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 173

What is a disunited canter?

Horse switches leads only in front but not in the rear or switching leads only in the rear but not in the front (Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 18)

In the gallop, where does the drive or power come from?

Hind legs | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 19

What is the base of support for the pace?

Two lateral legs | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175

When on the left lead, which leg/legs are on the ground for the second beat of the canter?

Left rear & right front | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175

Explain free-going.

When the horse's gaits are executed in a smooth, collected manner & the action is not excessive or labored (Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17)

What is the expression used when the stride lacks spring or action, therefore causing unnecessary rider fatigue?

Rough or hard-gaited | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 18

What is the expression used when the rider's reaction to a horse's gaits is pleasant & enjoyable?

Easy-gaited | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17

What is the term used when the inside of the diagonal fore and hind pasterns make contact - sometimes seen in fast trotting horses?

Speedy cutting | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 179 / Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 13

What do you call a pacer that rolls his body sideways as he paces?

Sidewheeler | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 18

Explain collected.

Controlled gait - a correct, coordinated action | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17

How many beats are there in a gallop?

Four | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 176

A short underline can cause a horse to do what?

Forge | Source: Horse Science (National 4-H Council), p. 10-11

What are the gaits that are the result of specific training & practice called?

Acquired gaits | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17

At what approximate speed does the running walk travel?

Between 6 & 10 mph (accept any number between those - different references read 6-8, 7-8, 8-10 mph) (Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 18 / Horses and Horsemanship, Ensminger, p. 75)

How many beats do the walk, trot, canter & gallop each have?

Walk - 4 beat gait, Trot - 2 beat gait, Canter - 3 beat gait, Gallop - fast 4 beat gait (Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17-19)

What is an exaggerated paddling, particularly noticeable in high-going animals?

Winging out | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 181

What is another name for the slow gait?

Stepping pace | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 172

With which foot does a horse start a right lead canter?

Left hind | Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 175

Name 3 of the 5 characteristics of the walk.

Slow, 4 beat gait, stride less than 6 feet, average speed of about 4 miles per hour, 3 feet on the ground at one time (Source: Equine Science, Griffiths, p. 70)

Name 4 important features of a stride.

Balance, Directness, Height, Length, Rapidity, Regularity | Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 19

What is a cross canter?

When the horse is on one lead in the front and the other in the back (Source: Equine Science, Griffiths, p. 76)

How many beats does the back gait have?

2 beats | Source: Equine Science, Griffiths, p. 79