I was just wondering do you guys call it a canter or lope? I’ve always said canter but I noticed a lot of western people (including my instructor) say lope. They are the same thing aren’t they?
Canter is the English riding term and lope is the western riding term for the same three beat gait.
2 Likes
What NoSuchPerson said.
And to make it more fun, I’ve never heard it called counter-lope, so even if you’re working on your lope circles, you counter-canter. 
7 Likes
Both are a three-beat gait but I don’t know if I’d say they’re the same thing. 
I think a lope is slower and has a different feel to it than the canter. Maybe the canter has more impulsion? Anybody else think they’re different? If so, how would you describe the difference?
1 Like
IMO, they are exactly the same gait. The specifics of how the horse should perform that gait may differ depending on the discipline, but there is no difference in the basic definition of the gait, which is a function of the footfall pattern.
A trot and jog are also just different names for same 2 beat diagonal gait. Again, the specifics of how the horse should perform that gait may differ depending on the discipline, but there is no difference in the basic definition of the gait.
6 Likes
Again, I agree.
But whether they’re the same gait wasn’t the question, was it? OP asked whether or not canter and lope are the same thing. Seems like a different question to me. Sure, canter and lope have the same pattern of footfalls, as do jog and trot. But I can’t imagine anyone riding a jog and a trot would say they’re the same. We don’t even call them the same in ranch classes - jog means one thing and trot quite another in how they’re executed by the horse and ridden by the human. You know, both the waltz and the rhumba are three beat gaits, but no one performing or watching would say they’re the same dance. :lol:
1 Like
Lol! I guess it’s how you look at it. She asked if it was the same thing.
Yes, it’s the same but at the same time its not. Same foot fall, different discipline.
2 Likes
Bad example because the waltz and rhumba have different footfall patterns so even if they are both three beat dances, they aren’t the same thing.
However, this isn’t a university entrance exam and there is no one right answer. The OP asked a question. I answered with my perspective. You posted a different perspective and also asked some questions. I responded to your question with a further explanation of my opinion. Your opinion does not negate my opinion and mine does not negate yours. And I suspect that the OP, who is clearly new to this stuff, will benefit from reading all viewpoints.
Have to agree with Paint, footfalls are the same, but the differences in execution are very different. The feel is different to the rider and speed of footfalls (done correctly) is different too.
Of course the “well-trained” horse can do a lope, a canter, hand gallop, gallop, as well as several speeds of the trot footfalls.
You have to work with the discipline and their terminology. Western saddle means we lope and jog, do a slower walk in the ring than when wearing an English saddle.
Tomato.
Some say toe-MAY-toe. Some say toe-MAH-toe.
That’s about how I feel with canter vs. lope.
Yes “in general” canter is an English term and lope is a Western term. But I use the two words interchangable all the time. And it’s correct that you’ll never hear anyway say do a counter-lope … you always say counter-canter.
I’ve read English patterns that call for a lope. And I’ve read Western patterns that call for a counter-canter. Yet each discipline still has their designated and acceptable “speed”.
Ultimately, they ARE the same thing. Just a terminology thing.
Semantics. Same thing, same gait. Just different ways to explain it.
Canter.
But, I do kind of categorize them differently. To me, a lop is more of a relaxed, stretched out, slower pace. A canter is more lofty, upbeat, and collected. That’s just how I see it.
1 Like
