Arabians dominate this sport however, because of their compact body. The horse and rider must be in prime shape, though, to maintain the perfect balance required at such a high speed.Īny breed can compete so long as they’re fit and can pass veterinarian checkpoints throughout the ride.

With regular breaks, though, they can gallop two miles at a time. These rides take place outdoors and can be done individually or on a team.Įndurance horses cover up to 100 miles in a day. There are usually smaller rides of around 25 miles for people just starting or bringing a new horse into the sport. How far are endurance races?ĭepending on how much experience you or your horse have, an endurance ride ranges from 50 to 100 miles. The most famous American endurance race is The Tevis Cup. It tests a horse and rider over a long distance-50-150 miles over one to three days. Endurance is a different kind of test of speed and athleticism. Long-distance competition is separated into two separate types: competitive trail riding and endurance rides. Quarter Horses have been clocked running 55 miles per hour in their races. She covered a quarter-mile in 20.57 seconds on May 14, 2008.

How fast can a Thoroughbred run?Īccording to the Guinness World Record, Winning Brew, a two-year-old Thoroughbred filly, is the fastest horse in the world, after being clocked at 43.97 miles per hour. Most Thoroughbred races are over a mile, but racehorses only sprint at top speeds for the last 20 or so seconds of the race. While a horse can gallop for a mile or two when it comes to maintaining top speed, it depends on the breed and fitness level of the horse. Their quick acceleration and agility allow them to excel in these types of events. Quarter horses are commonly found at speed events (also called contesting) such as barrel racing and pole bending. They got their name because they can run a quarter mile faster than any other horse.īeing bred to sprint, they don’t last long past that distance. Quarter Horses were bred to specifically race over a quarter-mile-they are sprinters! A furlong is one-eighth of a mile or 220 yards. Thoroughbreds can race at many distances, measured in furlongs. Thoroughbreds can either race over jumps (steeplechasing) or on a flat track, like the Kentucky Derby. The most popular horse racing is Thoroughbred, followed by Quarter Horse racing. There are many different kinds of horse racing: pacing, endurance, Arabian, Quarter Horse, and Thoroughbred, for example. Horses have been raced for as long as they’ve been domesticated. Now that you know about the gaits, it’s time to explore just how fast the top running athletes are. Galloping is the fastest gait and requires more energy, so a gallop can only be maintained by a well-conditioned horse for two or two and a half miles at the most, before fatigue will set in. While more comfortable for a human to sit, this gait isn’t as easy on a horse and isn’t as efficient as a trot, so it’s harder to maintain the speed over distance. That said, most riding horses can’t go anywhere close to that long. As for how long it can last, a very fit endurance horse can last maybe seven miles or so. Breaks are highly recommended so they don’t overextend or injure themselves.Ī steady, three-beat canter clocks in at around 10-17 miles per hour for most horses. But, again, that’s if the horse is in great shape. If a horse is in great condition, the average distance they could travel in a day (without stopping) is 20 to 40 miles in a day. Fun fact: racing trotters have been recorded at over 30 miles per hour! This two-beat gait averages around 8 miles per hour for most horses.

The trot is the most efficient gait for a horse. A more fit horse can go longer and faster. That means they could walk about 32 miles. An average horse can comfortably walk for approximately eight hours of the day. How long can a horse walk?Ī walk is a four-beat gait and clocks in at a whopping 4 miles an hour on typical horses. It can be confusing when you’re just learning the terms, but couple it with a visual reference, and you’re sure to catch on quickly. While the pace is different, the movement is the same. In the western world, horses perform a slower trot called a jog and a slower canter called a lope. Horses can walk, trot, canter, and gallop. The faster the dance, the more beats it has in the same amount of time. A canter typically has three beats while a gallop has four. You can tell the difference by the number of beats in the gait. Parting Thoughts The Basics: Mechanics of Equine Movementįor starters, a horse doesn’t just “run.” Running can either be one of two gaits, a canter or a gallop.

Riding a horae at full gallop