292 The Book oi- the Horse. 



fore-legs unduly jolted by the rider's weight, and shows his good sense in thus silently rebuking 

 his rider. 



Besides the true collected canter there is the " screw canter," affected by horses unsound 

 in two or three legs, or all four, a combination of running and cantering, in an effort to ease 

 their poor feet. 



It was at a screw canter that Tennyson's Northern Farmer returned from market, hearing 

 at every step the welcome sound of " Proputty, proputty, proputty " — a sound which the little 

 vulgar street boys impertinently translate into " Three-halfpence and twopence," much to the 

 annoyance of many a Sunday horseman rejoicing in an outing on a hired steed. 



THE HAND-GALLOP. 



A slight additional urging, a little more liberty of rein, and the pupil advances to the 

 "hand-gallop," the fastest pace permitted in the Park, and, on suitable ground, perhaps the 

 most exhilarating for the rider and the horse. At the hand-gallop conversation is still not 

 only possible but pleasant, and the horse, if high-spirited, is relieved from a restraint that is 

 sure to fret him if the scene is not Rotten Row, but some manorial park or wide-spreading 

 undulating downs. When the pupil can confidently take part in the hand-gallop, and start 

 and stop his horse when he pleases, he has made a great step in advance. 



This pace cannot be defined in miles. Some thoroughbred horses will be cantering within 

 themselves, and appearing to be only doing eight or nine miles an hour, when they are 

 really stepping over twelve ; while your fat cob will, as French romancers say, be " burning 

 the pavement," and yet scarcely get through seven miles an hour. 



The hand-gallop is play, the pace of pleasure parties not hurried, of hunting-men going 

 to cover with a half-hour to spare. Galloping is a serious business ; it ta.xes the best efforts of 

 the horse, and requires all the attention of the horseman. 



THE GALLOP. 

 To gallop, the pupil must sit firmly down in the saddle, and take hold of his horse with 

 a rein in each hand, liolding him together with the snaffle, and making him just know that 

 the curb is there, ready to be used at a moment's notice, and to be used if the horse endea- 

 vours to get beyond the pace required. How to so hold a horse it is impossible to explain 

 by written directions. But the object of holding a horse together in galloping, instead of 

 playing with him as in the canter, is to keep him to a measured pace, to make him stride 

 evenly, and prevent his increasing his rate of going at his own will and pleasure. This requires 

 in the pupil horseman both strength and attention. Jockeys stand up in their stirrups, lean 

 over their horse's withers for the five furlongs, or mile, or mile and a half they have to 

 traverse, until the "supreme moment," \\'hen they sit down to finish a close-run race. In this 

 way, for the few minutes occupied in covering a short distance, they relieve the propelling 

 limbs from weight, and give them more power to force forward the horse's fore-hand. But 

 although the practice of standing up and leaning forward over the withers is sound as regards 

 racing, it is both absurd and awkward in riders either on the road or in the hunting-field. 

 Whyte Melville says on galloping: "Riding thus two-handed, if he bends to you in the canter 

 you may safely push him to a gallop, taking care that he docs not extend himself too much. As 

 long as his haunches are under him you can command him ; when he goes on his shoulder 

 he commands you." 



