What is Galloping?

Galloping is the fastest of horse gaits; horses can achieve speeds of up to 30 miles an hour (50 kilometers an hour) at the gallop. Typically this gait can only be sustained for a short period of time, because it requires a huge amount of energy. Fans of horse racing have seen horses worked at the gallop, since this gait is classically used in racing, and galloping is also used in hunting and in the show ring. As a general rule, this is a gait for advanced riders only, because it is difficult to control a horse at the gallop.

This is a four beat gait in which the legs are extended as far as possible to cover ground. It is very similar to the three beat canter, except that the gallop requires even more power from the hindquarters. In nature, this gait undoubtedly evolved to allow horses to escape quickly from predators, which is why it relies on a burst of speed, rather than stamina. The goal is to get away from a dangerous location, rather than to keep up a sustained flight.

If you watch a video of a horse galloping in slow motion, you can see that the gallop includes a moment of suspension, in which all four legs are off the ground. During the moment of suspension, the legs are bent under the body of the horse, right before the horse lands a hind leg and takes off with explosive power, extending the front legs as far as possible to move forward.

Unlike the trot and canter, the gallop essentially only has one speed. Some show horses are taught to demonstrate the gallop in hand, a more controlled form of the gallop, but generally, horses are either galloping or cantering.

Sitting a gallop is tricky. Most riders adopt a two-point position, in which the body is raised slightly over the saddle and leaned forward over the horse for balance. It takes time to learn to sit this gait securely, and to control a horse at the gallop; an unbalanced rider or a rider who lacks control may find that a gallop turns into a sprint which cannot be controlled until the horse runs out of energy, and this is not desirable. As a general rule, riders should become very comfortable with the canter before pushing the gait into a gallop, and many riders try galloping on a lead line first, allowing someone else to control the horse while they learn to sit the gait securely.

Galloping is a fast gait used by some animals where all four feet leave the ground during each stride. It's a sequence of movements that typically involves a moment of suspension with no feet touching the ground. This gait is most commonly seen in horses, but it's also used by other quadrupeds like deer and dogs when they need to move quickly.

Many quadrupedal mammals are capable of galloping, including horses, zebras, giraffes, deer, and antelopes. Domestic animals such as dogs and cats can also gallop. The ability to gallop is widespread among mammals that need to escape predators or cover large distances quickly for foraging or migration.

A horse can gallop at speeds of up to 25 to 30 miles per hour (40 to 48 kilometers per hour). The fastest recorded speed for a horse galloping over a short, sprint distance is 55 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour), achieved by the American Quarter Horse, which is renowned for its explosive speed over short distances.

Galloping is energy-intensive and is not the most efficient form of movement for long distances. It's typically reserved for situations that require speed, such as escaping predators or competing for mates. For endurance, animals will use more energy-efficient gaits like walking or trotting.

Galloping is distinct from other gaits like walking, trotting, or cantering due to its speed and the phase of suspension where all four feet are off the ground. It's a four-beat gait with a different footfall pattern and is generally the fastest gait an animal can use, requiring significant energy and coordination.

While all horses have the innate ability to gallop, factors such as age, breed, health, and training can affect their performance. Some breeds, like Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, are specifically bred for speed and excel at galloping, whereas heavy draft horses may not reach the same speeds due to their size and build.