trotting

This term describes a specific rhythmic gait where diagonal pairs of legs move simultaneously. In equestrian contexts, it is distinguished from the walk by speed and from the canter or gallop by the lack of a suspension phase where all four feet leave the ground.

When used as an adjective, it typically refers to a specialized category of harness racing. In this professional context, "trotting" denotes a specific discipline where horses are bred and trained to maintain a trot rather than a gallop, often requiring specific equipment to prevent the horse from breaking stride.