The ratings are for the activeness of each member. Walk is a rating for a member who just started and doesn't own a business and isn't too active yet. Trot is a rating for members who have graduated from Walk, own businesses and are somewhat active members in Horseshoes. Canter is a rating for active members who own more than 1 business, help other members out, adopt abandoned animals, donate sim money to good causes, are graduates from Trot and are always willing to help make Horseshoes the best sim game it can possibly be. Gallop is for members that are graduates from Canter, extreamly active members, members who are good consultants for people who have questions and for new members and who often holds shows and fund-raisers for a good cause.
All members start out in Walk.
When the member graduates, they are recognized for their hard work to become a graduate from that level. If a member graduates from Gallop, they are into the Star level. Star is a hard level to get to. Star is a level for members who have passed all levels and have been very active and helpful to everybody and worked hard to become a good member in Horseshoes. There are no levels after Star.