Ponies tend to live longer, with many ponies still serving as schoolmasters well into their 30s. There are five main gaits, or ways in which a horse can move; these are called walking, trotting, cantering, galloping and backing. A horse is built to cover many miles in one day, but not at a gallop. Quarter horses are bred for shorter distances, while Arab horses are noted for endurance. Riders planning to cover very long distances usually only average around 20 miles a day on horseback. A horse can die of dehydration, heart attack and exhaustion if not rested periodically. While a horse may be exhausted after a three mile gallop, that same horse could trot, with a few walk breaks, 15 miles without extraordinary strain. Most people assume the Pony Express riders galloped their entire route. The basis of this question (the distance a particular horse can run) is mainly genetics,” says Casner. A few ponies and horses may even reach the age of … Many weekend-warrior riders can't stand eight hours in the saddle, though. A more fit horse may cover more distance if he is able to trot or canter for part of the time. Also, horses, like humans, can develop heart problems. Horses can, however, cover very long distances at slower speeds. Horses can run fast only so long, depending on the conditioning and the breed. However, on one ride that covered a total of 2,600 miles, the horses averaged 31 miles per day. The average speed at which a horse gallops is approximately 48.2 kilometers (30 miles) per hour, but the top speed reported is considerably higher. Modern endurance rides cover 100 miles that must be completed in less than 24 hours. A typical horse may be comfortable walking for eight hours, meaning he could cover 32 miles in that time. “Some horses’ best distance is the quarter mile (440-yard) versus 350, and some will stretch out to 550, and some may run 870, as well. A horse can maintain a full-speed gallop for a few miles. According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, the average lifespan of a domestic horse is 25 to 33 years. Two to 3 miles is about the maximum distance for which even a well-conditioned horse can maintain a top speed. Many horses go well beyond this average. A horse can cover more ground, faster, if kept consistently at a trot. it depends on how big your horse is and how big you are A big horse could go on flat ground for maybe 15 minutes max until he gets completely worn out if …