130 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



shoulders to the right and moves the quarters to the 

 left, and by the action of the right leg, which equally 

 pushes the quarters to the left. In all the changes of 

 direction the action of the leg should precede the action 

 of the hand. By acting otherwise the quarters prop 

 and make the turning clumsy. By, on the contrary, 

 inclining the seat of impulsion in the new direction, 

 the hindquarters act as a rudder, and impose the 

 direction w^hich the hand has only to indicate. 



The Gallop. Galloping a horse. — The want of breed- 

 ing in the troop horse, makes it necessary to be 

 very careful in the use of the fast paces, and puts 

 a limit on the degree of speed that one can exact 

 from them, and also on the distance for which they 

 can be exercised. 



Nevertheless, the practice of the charge, makes 

 it necessary for the soldier not only to make use of 

 the extended gallop but also intermediate speeds. 

 The instructor carefully regulates the details of this 

 work, chooses his day, and ground, and gradually 

 teaches his men and horses to take and maintain a 

 steady gallop. 



In these exercises the rider takes care to press 

 the horse into the bridle. The greater confidence 

 the horse has in the support of the hand, the better 

 he places himself to ensure speed. There is also an 

 advantage, at first, in riding him in a snaffle or double 

 snaffle. The first gallops are made easier by the 

 horses being arranged in groups of two or three at 

 most, according to their temperaments. In the 

 gallop, the rider should have his stirrups " home," 

 the thighs closed in, and the legs fixed to the horse's 

 sides, he should also lean slightly forward, so as to 

 ease the horse's loins of weight, allow the hindquarters 



