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The very fact that a horse is called upon to gallop implies a high level of athletic demand, higher than that typically required by the walk, amble or trot gaits that we have previously reviewed in this series. In our last installment, we detailed the biomechanics and stride characteristics of galloping. This prepares us to now take a closer view of some possible side effects of galloping, especially as they relate to the hoof but also to the horse’s carpal joint or “knee.”

The canter and gallop are similar in that both are asymmetrical and thus can be performed on either a right or left lead. However, the canter is slower and daintier, while the gallop, by contrast, is the gait of the war horse, polo horse, jumper and racehorse.