Fox trot

What does this gait look like?

At the fox trot the horse seems to walk in front and trot behind. The diagonal pairs do not land exactly together: the fore hoof touches down just before its matching hind hoof, giving a soft, gliding rhythm.

Number of beats

4

Footfall order

broken diagonal: the fore hoof lands just before its diagonal hind hoof

Suspension

No

Type

Diagonal

More about this gait

The fox trot is a broken diagonal four-beat gait. Because the fore hoof of each diagonal pair lands slightly before the hind, a four-beat rhythm arises without suspension. The gait is typical of the Missouri Fox Trotter and is known for its comfort over long distances.

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