# gait

/ˈɡeɪt/ (US) · /ɡˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gait
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. horse movement

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the specific way a horse moves its legs, such as a trot or a gallop.

For teachers: any of the distinct patterns of locomotion exhibited by a horse, whether natural or trained.

- The horse shifted its gait from a walk to a smooth trot.
- During the dressage competition, the judges evaluated the horse's ability to maintain a consistent gait through several complex transitions.

### 3. to train a horse

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to train a horse to move in a specific way.

For teachers: to train or lead a horse in order to develop or display a specific gait.

- The trainer spent weeks gaiting the young horse for the upcoming show.
- Professional handlers are skilled at gaiting their animals to highlight their natural athletic proportions to the judges.

Usage: The verb is transitive and takes a direct object, usually a horse.

## Examples

- The doctor watched the patient's gait to check for balance issues.
- He recognized his sister from a distance simply by her energetic, bouncing gait.
- The horse's smooth, rhythmic gait made it an ideal choice for long-distance travel across the uneven mountain trails.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.