What is the normal speed for horse riding?

The answers already provided give the average speed for an average size horse. And that's good to know, especially if you're engaging in a horse related sport that is timed. read more

Once in a while, when we’re both warmed up and neither one is tired, we lope (canter) a little bit. We don’t gallop any more, and only occasionally do a posting (or long) trot. The normal speed for riding is what you and your mount agree upon. Hope your trails are happy ones. read more

All horses move naturally with four basic gaits: the four-beat walk, which averages 6.4 kilometres per hour (4.0 mph); the two-beat trot or jog, which averages 13 to 19 kilometres per hour (8.1 to 12 mph) (faster for harness racing horses); and the leaping gaits known as the canter or lope (a three-beat gait that is 19 to 24 kilometres per hour (12 to 15 mph), and the gallop. read more

A pacing horse, being smaller and taking quicker steps, moves from side to side at a rate that becomes difficult for a rider to follow at speed, so though the gait is faster and useful for harness racing, it becomes impractical as a gait for riding at speed over long distances. read more