Basic Movement

This is a no brainer post.

Walk: 4 beat gait.

Trot: 2 beat gait.

Canter: 3 beat gait.

Duh, right?

Each gait can be lengthened and shortened.

A lot of people say the trot is the most important gait. Maybe. A quality trot will strengthen your horse's body overall if ridden well.

"Quality" being a walk, trot, or canter ridden back to front, with the horse swinging through and over his/her topline.

I say, it takes all three.  One quality part of a three part system will not make the other gaits necessarily better, but it will be a good indicator.

I believe the quality of the walk is an indicator of overall relaxation in the horse's body.  When the walk becomes forward with quality, it indicates the willingness in the other gaits.

As for the canter, it is a good indicator of relaxation in the lumbar region because of the "uneveness" of the hind legs. The inside hind leg is more forward under the horse as it travels on the correct lead, stretching the back, lumbar, and hindquarter muscles, all the while engaging the belly. A canter that can engage all these areas will create a softer, more comfortable gait.

So work to create quality gaits with the three basic gaits all horses come equipped with.