 The breed exhibits a natural ambling gait , called the single @-@ foot , which replaces the trot seen in a majority of horse breeds . Both gaits are an intermediate speed between a walk and a canter or gallop ; ambling gaits are four @-@ beat gaits , whereas the trot is a two @-@ beat gait . The extra footfalls provide additional smoothness to a rider because the horse always has at least one foot on the ground . This minimizes movement of the horse 's topline and removes the bounce of a two @-@ beat gait , caused by a moment of suspension followed by the jolt of two feet hitting the ground as the horse shifts from one pair of legs to the other . The value of an intermediate speed is that the horse conserves energy . More than thirty horse breeds are " gaited , " able to perform a four @-@ beat ambling gait , and some can also trot . Thus , a Rocky Mountain Horse , with rider , can use the single @-@ foot to cover rough ground at around 7 miles per hour ( 11 km / h ) and short stretches of smooth ground at up to 16 miles per hour ( 26 km / h ) . The faster speed is known as the rack . In comparison , the average medium trot speed is 6 to 8 miles per hour ( 9 @.@ 7 to 12 @.@ 9 km / h ) . 
 The breed <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>exhibits</mark></a> a natural ambling gait , called the single @-@ foot , which <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>replaces</mark></a> the trot seen in a majority of horse breeds . Both gaits are an intermediate speed between a walk and a canter or gallop ; ambling gaits are four @-@ beat gaits , whereas the trot <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>a two @-@ beat gait . The extra footfalls provide additional smoothness to a rider because the horse always <a href='got' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> at least one foot on the ground . This <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>minimizes</mark></a> movement of the horse <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>topline and <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>removes</mark></a> the bounce of a two @-@ beat gait , caused by a moment of suspension followed by the jolt of two feet hitting the ground as the horse <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>shifts</mark></a> from one pair of legs to the other . The value of an intermediate speed is that the horse <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>conserves</mark></a> energy . More than thirty horse breeds are " gaited , " able to perform a four @-@ beat ambling gait , and some can also trot . Thus , a Rocky Mountain Horse , with rider , can use the single @-@ foot to cover rough ground at around 7 miles per hour ( 11 km / h ) and short stretches of smooth ground at up to 16 miles per hour ( 26 km / h ) . The faster speed is known as the rack . In comparison , the average medium trot speed <a href='drop_aux' title='10'><mark>is</mark></a>6 to 8 miles per hour ( 9 @.@ 7 to 12 @.@ 9 km / h ) . 
Da breed exhibit a natural ambling gait , called the single @-@ foot , which replace tdatrot seen in a majority of horse breeds . Both gaits r an intermediate speed between a walk and a canter or gallop ; ambling gaits are four @-@ beat gaits , whereas thdarot a 2 @-@ beat gait . The extra footfalls provide additional smoothness to a rider becuz the horse always got at least one foot on the ground . This minimize movement of the horse  topline and remove the bounce of a two @-@ beat gait , caused by a moment of suspension followed by thedalt of tw2eet hittin the daund as the horse shift from one pair of legs to the other . The vdae of an intermediate speed is dat the hoda conserve energy . More den thirty horse breeds are " gaited , " able to perform a four @-@ beat ambling gait , and some can also trot . Thus , a Rocky Mountain Horse , with rider , can use the single @-@ foot to cover rough ground at around 7 miles per hour ( 11 km / h ) and short stretches of smooth ground at up to 16 miles per hr ( 26 km / h ) . The faster speed is known as the rack . In comparison , the average medium trot speed 6 to 8 miles per hohr 9 @.@ 7 to 12 @.@ 9 km / h ) .