116 Exercises in the Paces. 



when we press a horse in the trot beyond his ca- 

 pacity, or animate him with the legs while we re- 

 tain him with the hand, we compel him to raise 

 his two fore legs after each other, which commen- 

 ces the action of the gallop. 



The action of the gallop is in the following 

 order, when leading with the right leg. — The near 

 fore foot is first raised from the ground : then the 

 off fore foot. These come to the ground in the 

 same order. The near fore foot marks one beat, 

 or time : the off fore foot, passing the other, while 

 both are in the air, comes to the ground more for- 

 ward, is the leading foot, and marks the second 

 beat. The hind feet follow in like manner. The 

 near hind foot marks a third beat ; and the off 

 hind foot, passing, comes to the ground more for- 

 ward, and marks a fourth beat. Thus the action 

 of the gallop is by means of the two fore legs 

 leading close after each other ; and the hind legs 

 immediately following in like order. 



Here, when the gallop is united and true, the 

 feet mark a regular, sharp, and quick time, of one, 

 two, three, four. 



IV. The amble may perhaps be considered as a 

 natural pace of the horse ; because most foals fol- 

 lowing their dams amble more or less to keep up 



