trotted

Trotted is the past tense of trot, a common gait used by many four-legged animals, most notably horses, ponies, and dogs. A trot is a two-beat diagonal gait in which diagonal pairs of legs move together; for example, the left foreleg and right hind leg land in sequence, followed by the right foreleg and left hind leg. The cadence can vary from a calm, sustained pace to a quicker, more animated pace, and some horses exhibit a moment of suspension between beats at higher speeds. In riding, the trot can be performed as a rising trot (the rider periodically rises in the saddle) or a sitting trot (the rider remains seated).

Etymology and usage: The origin of the word trot is uncertain, with the term appearing in English from the medieval period. It is primarily used to describe a natural and trained gait in horses and other quadrupeds, but the root concept extends to canines and other mammals in discussions of locomotion.

Variations and context: In horses, several formal variants are common in training and competition. The collected trot emphasizes hindquarter engagement and a shorter, more compact frame; the working trot represents a balanced, practical tempo for everyday work; and the extended trot features longer strides and greater reach. In dressage, progression among these variants reflects changes in balance, collection, and cadence. In harness racing, the trot denotes a specific diagonal gait used by trotters, distinct from the pacing gait used by pacers. The trot is also a basic reference point in gait analysis and veterinary assessment of locomotion.

Overall, trotted describes a fundamental, diagonal two-beat gait widely observed in animal locomotion and utilized in training, sport, and scientific study.