Trot and Gait  .  Traction, Sharpness and Footfall

Horses have three gaits: walk, trot, gallop. However, they may move differently, as in the case of the Peruvian Paso Horse.

Let’s look at trotting in the majority of breeds. When a horses starts moving, it lifts its right hind leg and left foreleg at the same time, to then land on the ground simultaneously. After a small spring, the horse repeats the action, but with the left hind leg and the right foreleg. In other words, the horse moves in a two beat gait with the consequent upward and downward movement of the rider.

When other breeds trot they do so in a two beat gait; that is to say a gait characterized by the use of lateral pairs (left forefoot and hind foot or right and hind foot). In other words, the near hind and fore move together, then the off hind and fore move together. But this movement, as in the case of traditional trot, is also uncomfortable for the rider who instead of moving vertically, is swayed from side to side.

And this, in fact, used to be the gait of the first Peruvian Paso Horses. However, pioneer breeders noticed that the movement of some stallions was significantly more comfortable because they had a four beat gait rather than a two beat one.

This variant is the result of a lateral gait and not of a diagonal one, because both off limbs move more or less in unison, as do both near limbs, to then land with the hind foot followed by the forefoot, thereby adding a suspension phase which comes between the landing of the hooves of either side.

This gait which is called “the paso llano” or natural broken four -beat movement allows the rider to remain practically motionless, thus being able to ride very long distances swiftly and comfortably while going through trails which would be difficult even for humans.

This remarkable quality, genetically transmitted from generation to generation, is what has lead breeders to carry out strict selection controls to ensure that today we can enjoy the Peruvian Paso Horse which is -- given the mentioned attributes, in addition to its beauty, cadence, energy and willing disposition, one of the best riding breeds in the world.