The Gallop.—Almost invariably the gallop lesson should be begun early. This is an additional means of suppling the horse, of strengthening him, extending him, and pushing him straight ahead. It would be stupidity to gallop frequently on a colt that drags his legs and is disunited at a trot and that has difficulty in holding up the part essential to the training. On the other hand, it is proper to gallop repeatedly on a vigorous horse that has been worked before purchase, or on the horse with good strong legs, particularly after he has been thoroughly confirmed in the correct trot. (Notes d’Equitation.)
To Take the Gallop by Extending the Trot.—To accomplish this movement, the rider needs only to take the trot and by the use of both legs to push this gait up to the point where the horse leaves it to pass into the gallop.
To accomplish this without undue increase of speed, put the horse on a circle of six or seven yards radius, first trot around this and then lengthen the trot until the horse escapes into the gallop. When he is calm and the rider feels confidence in himself, the rider may leave the circle and rejoin the track on the same hand.
As long as the rider does not wish to make abrupt changes of direction, but gallops on a large circle or on the track, it makes little difference whether the horse is galloping true or false, and it is useless for the rider to bother about the leads at this stage of the training. (De Saint-Phalle.)
When the horse begins to understand the gallop and takes it calmly, the correct lead, which is explained on page 61, may be undertaken, at present, by the following aids: Both legs to increase the gait from the trot to the gallop; outside rein to prevent the haunches from swinging to the outside and which precludes the liability to a false lead.
(Note.—“Outside” always means the outside of a circle, or, if on the track, the side towards the wall.)
CHAPTER IV.
Mechanism of the Gaits.
The Walk.—This is a movement of four beats, and is a pace in which all the legs move, respectively, one after the other. If, for instance, the left fore leads, the sequence is: