How many beats occur in a trot?

In a trot, there are two distinct beats. During this gait, the horse moves its legs in a diagonal pattern: the front left leg and the hind right leg move together, followed by the front right leg and the hind left leg moving together. This dual movement creates the two beats characteristic of the trot.

Understanding this gait is crucial in equine science, as it helps in recognizing various horse movement patterns and their implications for riding and training. The trot is often used as a working gait due to its energy-efficient nature and is a common pace in horse events, making it important for anyone involved in horse care or training to be aware of its structure.