Laterally Coordinated Gaits in the Modern Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

Abstract

Besides “natural” gaits of walk, trot, and canter, selected horse breeds engage in the so-called artificial gaits, including the fox trot, running walk, and rack. Though some studies have been undertaken of these artificial gaits, the datasets are incomplete, sample sizes are small, and no comprehensive overview has been written. After reviewing the literature and detailing what is known about these artificial horse gaits, the authors present data of their own. Linear, temporal, and footprint parameters or given regarding artificial gaits of twenty horses total from specialized breeds. In addition to finding decreasing stride duration, lateral advanced placement, and tripedal support as one moves from the walk to the running walk to the rack, as with previous studies, we also found decreasing ipsilateral/diagonal step time ratios and increasing ipsilateral swing phase overlaps. Visually, the walk, trot, fox trot, and slow rack leave trackways of ipsilateral pairs in parallel rows, the running walk and canter leave trackways of isolated prints with the running walk pattern more symmetrical, and the fast rack, stepping pace, and pace leave trackways with an undulating pattern formed by diagonal pairs of hooves with hooves often crossing over the center line yielding a negative interior straddle.