206 FIRST LESSONS IN RIDING 



GALLOP. 



An experienced hunting man remarked to me that a 

 large number of ladies who hunt, fail in ability to make 

 their horses gallop, which is a pace never taught by 

 riding masters. The gallop is not only necessary to 

 acquire, especially by a lady who intends to hunt, but 

 it improves the strength of seat more than any other 

 gait. Besides, a rider who is unaccustomed to it, is 

 always in danger of coming to "grief," if her horse 

 breaks away with her, either from being startled or 

 from mere " light-heartedness." For a lady's first 

 lesson in galloping, a piece of nice soft smooth ground, 

 free from stones and holes, and, say, a quarter of a mile 

 or three furlongs in length, should be selected. The 

 pupil should t>e provided with a rather sluggish horse, 

 which requires some "riding up to his bridle," and 

 should be told to canter her horse at his highest speed, 

 for the canter and gallop merge imperceptibly into each 

 other. The seat in the canter is precisely the same as 

 that in the gallop, except that when the horse is going 

 very fast, a lady will find it easier to lean slightly 

 forward, take a good steady hold of the reins, and keep 

 her hands in one fixed position, as low down as 

 possible. If she has any difficulty in getting her mount 

 to extend himself, the instructor should ride with her 

 and set the pace. When the lady's horse is really 

 galloping, he should slacken speed a little, and let the 

 animal pass him, in order that the pupil may learn to 

 ride a gallop without a lead. The chances are that her 



