8 9 



THE GALOP. 



In speaking of this gait, I will deal merely -with the galop as we 

 find it in school and cross country riding. "When correctly executed 

 the galop is one of the most graceful and enjoyable gaits of the horse 

 and deserves therefore our careful attention. 



The galop consists of a series of leaps which to commence, the horse 

 may be induced in different ways, with regard to its degree ot training 

 and the standard of perfection achieved by the rider. 



To induce a crude horse, "which is ignorant of the impressions of 

 reins and legs to galop, is most easily accomplished by urging the horse 

 into the desired gait out of a trot, at a moment, when a turn suggests 

 the leading with either the right or the left legs. 



Such horses "break" into a galop and are very apt to soon fall back 

 into a trot because, from lack of balance, they are unable to carry them- 

 selves for a greater number of leaps in a galop. 



The majority of hunters cause their mounts to galop by "driving" 

 the latter into this gait with a one sided aid of the heel, and a lift with 

 the reins upward which is responded to by the seasoned hunter with a 

 more or less hasty departure in a galop. 



From a stand-point of the horseman and the pupil -who lays claim 

 to a finished instruction in the art of riding, the horse must be literally 

 "set" into a galop and the first leap be the result of a scale of aids, which 

 are continued for as many leaps as the rider desires the horse to make. 



The collection of the horse, which forms an indispensable basis and 

 preparation for all evolutions and in all gaits, is necessary to a much 

 greater extend for the galop. 



If the horse is expected to leap and to continue to leap well balanced 

 and light on the hand of the rider, the forehand must be discharged 

 of weight by urging the hind legs forward under the centre of 

 gravity of the horses body and by elevating the forehand and shifting 

 its weight upon the horses haunches or, to express it more correctly, by 

 shifting the hindhand forward and under the forehand and then eleva- 

 ting the latter upon the former. 



lake on all other occasions the so balanced horse is under the control 

 of the rider on the principle by which the largest and heaviest bodies 

 become manageable and subject to the impressions of weaker bodies 

 ■when they are properly balanced and pivoted. 



We will next turn our attention to the position -which must be given 

 to the horse in order to compel it to galop either to the right or to the 

 left, as the case may be, and for this purpose I refer to the lateral gaits 

 spoken of in a previous leeture. 



For the galop to the right the Travers to the right and for the galop 

 to the left the Travers to the left are the positions which will insure a 

 correct "setting in" at a galop on either hand. 



It is of importance to maintain the collected condition of the horse 

 throughout the galop in order to control the number of leaps intended. 



2^ot only is the galop, one of the most majestic and graceful gaits 

 when swingy and well collected, but the good condition of the forehand, 



