148 ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



to a poise in action, when the passage would 

 become the piaffer ; the forehand would then be 

 kept in place in the piaffer step while the croup 

 would be carried over to the right, so that the body 

 of the horse would hold the proper position in 

 reference to the paths to traverse to the left : the 

 traverse would then be resumed in the passage in 

 the new direction. A very slow passage to the 

 front, side, or rear is often called the piaffer ; but if 

 there is any movement out of position it is not the 

 piaffer, which is the passage in place in perfect 

 equilibrium ; and, strictly speaking, the changes of 

 direction in traversing are made in the passage, for 

 the extremity of the horse, which is stationary, has 

 only the piaffer step, while the other part has the 

 passage step. 



The School Gallop is a pace of four beats, and is 

 procured from the ordinary gallop by demanding a 

 close union, and by sustaining the forehand with 

 the reins, so that the second hind-foot is planted 

 before the first fore-foot comes to the ground in 

 each stride. It is a languid pace, and can only be 

 performed at a low rate of speed. The school 

 gallop is employed in traversing, and for voltes 

 and pirouettes. The horse may be made to tra- 

 verse and to do the voltes in the ordinary gallop ; 

 but, as the high pirouette is a movement in which 



