A horse that trots. More specifically, a horse that has been bred and trained as a trotting harness racer.

A trotter moves its legs diagonally: right foreleg and left hindleg hit the ground together, then left foreleg and right hindleg hit the ground together. In a "gaited" horse, this is done smoothly and efficiently, with at least one leg supporting the horse's body at all times. Trotting is a balanced gait that comes naturally to horses, just as humans swing their arms opposite to their legs when walking or running.
TROTTERS
Feet. To shake one's trotters at Bilby's ball, where the sheriff pays the fiddlers; perhaps the Bilboes ball, i.e. the ball of fetters: fetters and stocks were anciently called the bilboes.

The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

Trot"ter (?), n.

1.

One that trots; especially, a horse trained to be driven in trotting matches.

2.

The foot of an animal, especially that of a sheep; also, humorously, the human foot.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.