Horses can move around in different ways, and these movements are called gaits. Each gait is characterised by its rhythm, the order in which the hooves touch the ground, and the posture of the horse. The gait a horse chooses to use in a situation depends on several factors: speed, environment, and genetics.[1,2]
Most horses can use four different gaits: walk, trot, canter, and gallop. These are called the “standard” or “natural” gaits. However, some horse breeds are capable of performing unique, extra “alternative” gaits. These are often referred to as “gaited breeds”. These extra gaits have many different breed-specific names, but they can be categorised into five distinct types: running walk, rack, pace, broken pace, and broken trot.[1]
In-game, gaits are part of the conformation stats of a horse.
Currently in-game gaits:
Icelandic Horse: rack (tölt), hard pace (flying pace)
Kathiawari: broken trot (revaal)
Different terms are used when referring to or categorising gaits:
When the legs on the same side (left vs. right) of the horse move together or right after each other (like in a walk), this is called a lateral gait. When the legs of opposite sides (eg left hind + right front) move together or in sequence (like in a trot), it's called a diagonal gait.[1]
In a symmetrical gait, the movements on the left and right sides of the body are the same (like in a trot or walk). In an asymmetrical gait, the left and right sides don't mirror each other but rather move in a different pattern (like in a canter/gallop).[2]
Gaits are also classified based on whether there is a suspension phase where all hooves are off the ground (a running gait, like a trot or canter), or whether there is always at least one hoof on the ground (a stepping gait, like in a walk).[2]
A "beat" is the sound made when one or more hooves touch the ground. The number of beats in one stride describes the rhythm of the gait. The walk is a four-beat gait, and the trot a two-beat gait, for example. Alternative gaits with a four-beat rhythm (faster than a walk, but usually slower than canter) are called ambling gaits.[1]
When these beats are all evenly spaced out, we call it an even gait (like a walk or trot). When the spacing varies between steps, it's called an uneven gait (like a canter/gallop). For example, in a walk, you can hear a nice even 1-2-3-4 rhythm, while a canter is more like 1---2-3-pause. [1,2]
The presence and quality of alternative gaits is linked to the DTMR3-gene, also referred to as the “gait-keeper” gene. The A-allele of the gene is often present in gaited breeds. Instead of transitioning from a walk to a diagonal trot at higher speeds, they transition to alternative lateral gaits instead. Not all gait variation can be explained by DMTR3, however, so likely other genes are involved as well.[1,3]
| DMTR3 alleles |
|---|
| C/C |
| C/A |
| A/A |
The running walk has the same leg sequence as the regular walk, but the hind legs move more forward under the horse's body and then push off to propel the horse. This results in a faster, overstepping gait (9.0–14.4 km/h). The hind legs have a low and outstretched stride, while the front legs are more elevated. Horses tend to bob their head and ears up and down. The flat walk is the slower version of the gait (around 6.5–7.9 km/h).[1,2]
The running walk is very comfortable to ride. It is also very sure-footed, since there is always at least one hoof, with periods of three hooves (when going slower), on the ground. The gait is likely more energy-efficient than a trot at similar speeds.[1]
| Sequence | Lateral |
|---|---|
| Symmetry | Symmetrical |
| Rythm | Four-beat |
| Leg sequence | LH → LF → RH → RF |
| Timing | Even |
The running walk appears to be linked to the DMTR3 gene in real life.
The running walk is currently not in-game.
The rack, mostly known as the tölt in Europe, is a four-beat gait. Compared to the running walk, the hind legs take shorter, quicker steps, and the gait is faster overall (9.0–21.6 km/h, up to 38.2 km/h in racing horses). The front legs are lifted high, and horses typically carry their head high with only a slight nod. A slower rack is often called a saddle rack, a faster one a hard rack.[1,2,5]
During the rack, there are periods with three hooves on the ground when going slower; even when fast, there is always one hoof on the ground. The gait is therefore also well adapted for difficult terrain and can often be seen in breeds from mountainous or hilly regions. It is also quite comfortable for the rider. The rack is great for high speeds at short distances, but is less efficient for long distances.[1,5]
| Sequence | Lateral |
|---|---|
| Symmetry | Symmetrical |
| Rythm | Four-beat |
| Leg sequence | LH → LF → RH → RF |
| Timing | Even |
The rack is currently NOT linked to any genetics in-game. Every Icelandic Horse can perform the rack/ tölt. The rack appears to be linked to the DMTR3 gene in real life. One copy of the DMTR3 A-allele is often needed to perform the rack.
The following table lists all breeds that currently have the rack in-game:
| Breed | Name |
|---|---|
| Icelandic Horse | Tölt |
The pace or hard pace is a two-beat gait where the lateral legs move at the same time (left hind + left front, right hind + right front). Between each beat, there is a moment where there are no hooves on the ground. The gait is very fast, even faster than the trot (12.6–29.2 km/h or even up to 37.8–50.4 km/h in a racing pace). However, the hard pace is not very comfortable to ride because of the side-to-side swaying motion in the saddle.[1,5]
The hard pace may have been favoured because of its speed. The gait also appears to be seen mostly in breeds originating from mountainous or hilly regions.[1]
| Sequence | Lateral |
|---|---|
| Symmetry | Symmetrical |
| Rythm | Two-beat |
| Leg sequence | LH + LF → suspension → RH + RF |
| Timing | Even |
The hard pace is currently NOT linked to any genetics in-game. Every Icelandic Horse can perform the hard pace/flying pace. The hard pace appears to be linked to the DMTR3 gene in real life. Two copies of the A-allele (homozygous) are often needed to perform the hard pace.[1,4]
The following table lists all breeds that currently have the hard pace in-game:
| Breed | Name |
|---|---|
| Icelandic Horse | Flying Pace |
The broken pace or stepping pace is a four-beat gait where, similar to the hard pace, the lateral legs move at the same time, but the hind hoof lands a little before the front hoof. The broken pace is usually not considered desirable by breeders, although there are some breeds where the gait is valued. There is still some side-to-side motion in the saddle, but the gait is a bit more comfortable to ride than the hard pace. The gait is quite efficient, but not as fast (10.4–22.3 km/h).[1]
| Sequence | Lateral |
|---|---|
| Symmetry | Symmetrical |
| Rythm | Four-beat |
| Leg sequence | LH → LF → RH → RF |
| Timing | Uneven |
The broken pace appears to be linked to the DMTR3 gene in real life. One copy of the DMTR3 A-allele is often needed to perform the broken pace.[1]
The broken pace is currently not in-game.
The broken trot is a variation of the two-beat trot (left hind + right front, right hind + left front) where the front hoof comes down just before the hind hoof, resulting in diagonal leg pairs and a four-beat gait. It is, however, a lateral ambling gait. Horses tend to show head bobbing in the broken trot. The gait occurs at speeds of around 11-15 km/h.[1,2,6,7]
The broken trot is common in breeds living in deserts, marshes, dry grasslands, or tropical forests, suggesting it is well-suited for travelling long distances on soft, deformable terrain. During the broken trot, there is always one, three or even four hooves on the ground. This helps horses stay balanced and not get stuck or slip, and also makes the gait quite comfortable for the rider. The gait is also very energy-efficient and can be maintained for long periods of time.[1]
| Sequence | Lateral |
|---|---|
| Symmetry | Symmetrical |
| Rythm | four-beat |
| Leg sequence | LF → RH → RF → RH |
| Timing | Uneven |
Unlike other gaits, the broken trot may not be linked to the DMTR gene at all, or only in a very minor way in real life[1]. On Horse Reality, the presence of the broken trot is determined by a hidden gene. All Kathiawari's can perform the broken trot.
The following table lists all breeds that currently have the broken trot in-game:
| Breed | Name |
|---|---|
| Kathiawari | Revaal |