Information on the Trots in France
Traquenard: This term designates when a horse is trotting with its front
legs and galloping with its rear legs.
L’amble : This term designates when a horse is trotting with its rear legs
and galloping with its front legs.
1) A horse is disqualified :
-if he takes advantage of the field by taking an irregular pace, as in
breaking into a Traquenard or Amble.
-when he breaks into 15 strides at an irregular pace (see above) building
progressive speed towards the finishing post.
- when he breaks into a gallop (1 stride) on the final part of the track
(marked by a red and white marker situated 200 metres from the finishing
post or to cross the finishing line).
2) A horse can be disqualified:
- when he breaks into more than 5 strides at an irregular pace
(traquenard or amble) on the final part of the track (marked by a red and
white marker situated 200 metres from the finishing post or to cross the
finishing line).
In both cases the racing stewards may review live footage of the race to
determine the disqualification of a horse. This can take up to ten minutes
before the result of race becomes official.
Trainers must declare their intention if they wish to unshoe a horse prior
to a race (this can often lighten a horse’s step and gait).They also have
the right, once the intention has been declared, to shoe or unshoe the horse
on the day of the race.
Punters should be aware, when consulting the starting list, the trotters
that trainers have declared their intention to unshoe, prior to the start.
It is in fact a declaration of intention, the final decision being made at
the last moment depending on the condition of the track. You should know
that generally unshod trotters usually perform better than shod horses, the
success rate of horses who have all forequarters and hindquarters,
particularly in the quintés+, is 45%, or the equivalent of 15 points more
than trotters who are shod in the same races (31%).
For more info :
http://www.cheval-francais.com/decouv/allures/termes.htm