Pacers
move both legs on the same side forward in unison. Most wear hopples
- straps connecting front and rear legs on the same side. Hopples
help the horse keep stride without limiting speed. Trotters move left
front and right rear legs forward almost simultaneously, then follow
suit with right front and left rear.
Usually
trotters do not wear hopples, so tend to go off stride in
inexperienced or trying to trot too fast. This is called 'breaking.'
The
tendency to trot or pace is inbred, but the ability to maintain gait
at high speed over a distance takes years of intensive training.
Trotters,
and even moreso pacers, wear many items of harness.
