Trot or lope are both gaits, which are the patterns of movement used by animals, including horses. Trotting is a two-beat GAIT in which the horse moves its legs in diagonal pairs, while loping is a three-beat GAIT in which the horse moves its legs in a sequence of left-right-left or right-left-right. Both gaits are used in riding and racing, with trotting being faster and more efficient than loping.