Cadence (riding)

Cadence is a measure of how far a horse releases its hooves from the ground when it moves. A "cadented" horse is one that pulls its legs farther from the ground than a horse that walks flat. Although the cadence can be promoted to a certain extent and a higher cadence is aimed for in exercises such as the piaffe and passage , the cadence is to a large extent innate. Horses of "Iberian origin" such as PRE , Frisians and Lipizzaners show a higher cadence than horses that have been bred for long-distance use.