Horse gaits refer to the different ways a horse moves, characterized by the rhythm and pattern of its footfalls. The primary gaits include the walk, trot, canter, and gallop. Each gait has a unique speed and sequence of leg movements, affecting how the horse covers ground and maintains balance. The walk is a slow, four-beat gait where each hoof hits the ground separately. The trot is a faster, two-beat gait with diagonal pairs of legs moving together. The canter is a three-beat gait that is quicker and smoother, while the gallop is the fastest, four-beat gait used for sprinting.