Gaits Flashcards
What is the average length of stride in the trot?
8-9 feet
Source: Equine Science, Griffiths, p. 72
Define transition in regards to gaits.
A change from one gait to another
Source: MN 4-H Horsemanship and Horse Training Manual, p. 36
What is pounding?
Hitting the ground hard in stride
Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 18 / The Horse, Evans, p. 181
At which gaits will lameness be most noticeable?
Walk, Trot
Source: Horse Science (National 4-H Council), p. 12
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)
A horse which can both trot and pace with good speed is known as what?
Double gaited
Source: Horses and Horsemanship, Ensminger, p. 517
This is the horse’s most useful gait and is called the “mother of all gaits”.
Walk
Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 172
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
Name three natural gaits of the horse.
Walk, Trot (jog), Canter (lope)
Source: Horses and Horsemanship (National 4-H Council), p. 17
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
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
Toeing out and base narrow usually cause what irregularity in the way of traveling?
Winging
Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 151
What term describes excessive lateral shoulder motion characteristic of horses with protruding shoulders?
Rolling
Source: Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 236
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
Which of the following are artificial gaits: trot, slow gait, canter?
Slow gait
Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 178
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
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
Describe paddling.
Throwing the front feet outward during the stride
Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 181 / Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 201
Define cross-firing.
Hind foot on one side strikes the diagonal forefoot (forging in the pacing horse)
(Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 179)
A slow to medium-fast, collected canter exhibited in Western classes is called what?
Lope
Source: Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 172
Define lateral gait & give an example.
Legs & feet move in lateral pairs. Example: Pace
Source: Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, p. 165
What is a natural gait?
One that’s pattern is distinct and is a commonly occurring gait
(Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 171)
Which gait is a distinguishing characteristic of the Tennessee Walking Horse?
Running walk
Source: AYHC Horse Industry Handbook, 172B-1
What is the name for a fast, 4-beat ground-covering walk?
Running walk
Source: The Horse, Evans, p. 178
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