noun / verb
canter
KAN-ter/ˈkæntər/
A horse's gait faster than a trot but slower than a gallop, or movement at this gait.
The horse moves at a smooth, relaxed canter.
Etymology
The older verb canterbury referred to the easy pace associated with pilgrims riding to Canterbury. That name became a term for a horse's moderate, easy gallop.
In context
go progress to gallop anywhere from a mile and a half to two and a half three miles depends what the horse is doing and then you go from a canter to a regular gallop
More examples
- The mare canters around the arena.
- We slow our horses from a canter to a trot.
- She is learning to canter on a gentle pony.
Forms
canter · canters · cantered · cantering
gait noun — A characteristic pattern of walking or running.
Similar words
- lope
- Often describes a relaxed canter, especially in Western riding.