the sound a horse's hooves makes

[alpacinou]

Is it common to use "clip-clopping" for the sound a horse's hooves makes?

Is this correct?

George woke to the clip-clopping of horses on the cobblestone street. The sounds took him back to his childhood village.

 

[Tarheel]

That works for me.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd use "on the cobblestones" or "on the cobbled street". I'd use "The sound" because "the clip-clopping" is singular.

 

[tedmc]

...woke up to...

Or
The sound was reminiscent of his childhood village.
The sound brought back memories of his childhood village.

 

[emsr2d2]

To clarify, you can open with:

He woke to ...
He woke up to ...
He awoke to ...