120 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



Slow trot (a jog trot) : 6 to 6y2 miles per hour, 176 to 190 yards per 

 minute. 



Trot (regulation) : 8 miles i)er hour, 235 yards per minute. 



Trot out: 10 miles per liour. 29.S yards per minute. 



Extended trot: 12 miles per hour. 352 yards per minute. 



Slow gallop: 9 to 10 miles per hour, 265 to 295 yards per minute. 



Gallop (regulation) : 12 miles per hour, 352 yards per minute. 



Extended gallop: 16 miles per hour, 470 yards per minute. 



The Slow Trot and Slow Gallop are the gaits most used in the early 

 training for riders. They are especially valuable for riding without 

 reins or stirrups and for the supi^ling" exercises. The Slow Walk is 

 used when marching with dismounted troops ; it is used but little in 

 training" the rider. 



INCREASING AND DECREASING THE PACE 



To increase or decrease the speed of the gait, the rider employs the 

 means prescribed for.passing from the halt to the walk or from the walk 

 to the halt to the extent necessary to obtain the desired result. 



The horse, in extending the walk, increases the amplitude of the 

 movement of the head and neck as he increases the cadence of his step. 



The rider aids these movements by yielding the hand and giving the 

 horse greater freedom of movement. He maintains contact with the 

 bit so that he can exercise a gradual restraining influence with the 

 direct reins when he feels the horse is about to spring into the trot. 



To decrease the pace at a walk the rider makes use of the same aids 

 as in coming to the halt. The step is shortened and the cadence 

 decreased. 



To increase or decrease the pace at the trot the same means are 

 used. The exercises in increasing and decreasing the pace afford ex- 

 cellent practice for the rider in the use of the aids and good training 

 for the horse in obeying them : but the rider out of ranks should use 

 only the regulation gaits. 



Changes of pace are executed at the cautions : 

 1 . Slow Walk ; 1 . Slow Trot ; 1 . Slow Gallop ; 1 . Walk Out ; 1 . Trot Out ; 

 1. Extended Gallop. 2. March. The normal pace is taken at the com- 

 mands: 1. Walk, 1. Trot, 1. Gallop. 2. March. 



At the regulation or maneuver gaits experience has shown that the 

 speed is such as, on the average, to render the horse capable of longer 

 sustained action without waste of energy, and that his endurance and 

 useful work are accordingly greater than at the other speeds. Ex- 

 tended speed at any gait rapidly exhausts a horse and should therefore 

 be avoided, while a slow speed at any gait does not work the horse to 

 his limit of greatest efficiency. The regulation gaits are therefore used 

 habitually when riding out of doors. The work in the extended area 

 during the third period must be such as thoroughly to impress the 

 cadence or tempo of these gaits on the minds of the men. 



