Ryan, Landau and The Three Beat Canter

Ryan and Landau, a 17 hand Holsteiner, are in training for the show ring. If you look closely at Landau's hooves, you will see that the only one touching the ground in this stride is the back right. All the others are in the air.

Landau is cantering, which has three beats ~ it sounds like one-two-three, one-two-three, one-two-three. He is cantering on the left lead, which you can tell because he is pushing off with the back right leg. If he was pushing off with the back left leg, he would be traveling on right lead. 

If Landau was pushed out to a gallop, then each hoof would hit the ground one at a time. So instead of three beats, you would hear four.

* Do you know how many beats you would hear when your horse or pony is trotting?