extended trot

horses’ gait

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

The extended trot is a gait in horses where the horse's stride lengthens, allowing its head and neck to extend forward. This is in contrast to a collected gait, such as the passage (elevated trot) or piaffe (trot in place).1

A trot is a two-beat gait where the horse's feet move in diagonal pairs. For example, the right hind and left foreleg move together, followed by the left hind and right foreleg. During this gait, there's a moment when all four of the horse's legs are off the ground. Riders can either sit the trot or "post," which involves rising in the saddle to ease the impact on both horse and rider. Trotters are also used in harness racing.1

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trot
An extended trot, unlike a collected gait, allows the head and neck of the horse to extend forward. The passage, or elevated trot, and the piaffer, or trot in place, are variations of the three-gaited or collected trot.
Read More
An extended trot, unlike a collected gait, allows the head and neck of the horse to extend forward. The passage, or elevated trot, and the piaffer, or trot in place, are variations of the three-gaited or collected trot.
Read More