The Handler's Arena

In pony play, there are several common gaits that participants can emulate to embody the movement and spirit of a pony. Each gait requires practice and coordination to imitate effectively. Participants can focus on the specific footfalls, movements, and cadence of each gait to create a more authentic pony experience. 

The walk is a natural and relaxed gait characterized by a four-beat sequence. Each hoof hits the ground independently, creating a smooth and steady rhythm.

The trot is a two-beat gait where the diagonal pairs of legs move together. This means that the right hand and left leg move simultaneously, followed by the left hand and right leg. The trot can vary in speed, ranging from a slow jog to a more energetic and bouncy trot.

The canter or lope is a three-beat gait that is faster than a trot. It involves a sequence of footfalls: the leading hand strikes the "ground" first, followed by the diagonal pair of  hand/leg and finally the remaining leg. The canter/lope can have different speeds, from a gentle canter to a more vigorous and spirited lope. In human terms, this is most similar to skipping.

The gallop is the fastest and most energetic gait of a pony. It is a four-beat gait that includes a suspension phase where all four hooves are off the ground. The gallop is characterized by a series of powerful leaps or bounds and is typically reserved for more advanced pony play enthusiasts due to its speed and intensity.

Theres two options on what to do with your hands when attempting different gaits. Its important to remember we are emulating a four-legged animal. Most ponies do not crawl around on all fours but instead stand proudly upright. In this case, arms are wither bound behind the back, or hands made into hooves. For hoof hands, its best to move the hand opposite the foot thats moving, imitating the way a real pony would move (see the picture above).

Hooves down the best video resource out there are the gait videos by SubMissAnn: https://www.asksubmissann.com/pony-gaits-training-videos/. She also has a book that is fantastic and I cant recommend enough: http://www.amazon.com/Pony-Play-subMissAnn/dp/1495269817