In the environment of horse lovers there are a lot of various definitions and concepts, having heard which, we are confused. Let's try to understand one of them. Often among horsemen the word "gait" sounds. This definition is one of the most important in equestrianism. With the help of this article, you will briefly immerse yourself in the world of the most beautiful animals.
Meaning of the word "gait"
The Russian language is rich in words that came to us from other countries. "Gait" - this is how the word "gait" is translated from French. It determines the form of the forward movement of the horses. In other words, gaits are a set of modes of movement inherent in horses. An animal can independently reproduce these movements from birth, but often these elements are additionally taught in riding schools. Do not confuse any fast movement of a horse with a gait. After all, this is not only a run, but also a step. There are both artificial and natural steps of horses. Among the natural (natural) the following gaits stand out: thisamble, regular walk, gallop and trot. Unnatural include: piaffe, Spanish walk, passage, backward gallop, Spanish trot, three-legged gallop.
Natural horse gaits
Ambler is an incorrect gait in which the animal rearranges a parallel pair of legs at the same time. From the side it looks like a horse rolls over from one side to the other. It is much more convenient for a rider to sit at an amble than at a trot, but the animal is less stable.
Step - the quietest way of movement, in which the animal steps over each of the four legs in sequence. The pace of this gait is set by the number of times the hooves hit the ground, in which the whole body moves one step forward. With this method, a horse is able to walk an average of 5 kilometers per hour.
The gallop is the fastest gait that occurs in jumps of three paces. With such a run, there is a moment when the horse seems to hang in the air. This happens when she shifts her back leg in order to lean on it. The average speed at a gallop is about 22 kilometers per hour. With a fast gallop, the horse is able to reach a speed of 60 km / h. This run is also called "career".
Lynx is a frisky gait performed in two paces. With this run, the horse rearranges its legs diagonally. The average speed at a trot is 45-48 kilometers per hour. And the world record was set by a horse that reached a speed of 55 km/h at a trot.
Artificial modes of transportation
Let's considerbriefly methods of movement of horses, which are taught specifically in equestrian clubs and schools. Such methods are artificial gaits - these are gaits deliberately instilled in animals for the purpose of sporting interests. These include:
- Spanish lynx. It differs in that when running, the horse throws forward the front leg parallel to the ground.
- The passage is the slowest trot when the legs are brought forward. At the same time, the front ones rise up beautifully and smoothly, and the rear ones are very strongly brought under the body.
- Spanish step. It differs from the usual one in that the front leg is extended forward, parallel to the ground.
- Piaffe is a movement in one place with a “passage” gait.
- Three-legged gallop, unlike a simple canter, is determined by one of the front legs constantly stretched forward. However, it should not affect the ground.
Summing up
So, in this article we looked at what horse gait is, what types of it are, and how they differ. Not all ways of moving horses are described here. For a more detailed study, it is necessary to delve into the details and master each element from a professional position separately. No matter how gait a horse moves, it always remains a graceful and beautiful animal.
