How many beats are in a horse's walk?

• A. Two
• B. Six
• C. Eight
• D. Four

Answer: (D)

In a walk, each limb lands in its own time, giving four distinct footfalls per stride. The typical sequence is a hind foot, followed by its corresponding front foot, then the opposite hind foot, and its opposite front foot, repeating the pattern. Because every foot hits the ground separately and the gait is slow and steady, you hear four beats in one walk cycle. This rhythm contrasts with a trot (two-beat, where diagonal pairs move together) or a canter (three-beat). The eight-beat notion isn’t used for the basic gaits. The four-beat walk provides a predictable cadence that’s particularly useful in hippotherapy for promoting stable postural cues and trunk control.