hoofbeat

This term specifically describes the auditory experience of an animal's hoof hitting a surface. It is most frequently used in literary or descriptive writing to build atmosphere, often evoking a sense of urgency, anticipation, or the approach of a rider.

While the word describes a sound, it is often used metonymically to represent the animal or the rider themselves, as in "the sound of distant hoofbeats." It carries a rhythmic quality that distinguishes it from a generic "thump" or "step."