A canter is a smooth, three-beat gait that horses use when moving faster than a trot but slower than a full gallop. When a horse canters, it feels like a gentle rocking motion to the rider, almost like being in a rocking chair that's moving forward. The horse's hooves hit the ground in a rolling rhythm: da-da-DUM, da-da-DUM.

Riders often canter during lessons once they've mastered walking and trotting, because it requires good balance and control. A skilled rider can guide their horse into a canter with subtle signals, while a beginner might bounce around in the saddle until they learn the rhythm. In horse shows and competitions, judges watch carefully to see if the horse maintains a steady, controlled canter around the ring.

The word also works as a verb: a horse canters across a field, or a rider asks their horse to canter. You might hear someone say a horse “broke into a canter” when it speeds up from a trot.

Outside of horseback riding, people sometimes use canter to describe an easy, relaxed pace of movement, like a person who canters through their morning routine without rushing.