Page:Notes on equitation and horse training.djvu/68

 XIX. WORK AT THE GALLOP.

Progressive method of perfecting the gallop lead on either foot.—(1) Taking up the gallop by increasing the gait from the trot.—In Question XIII we explained how, in the early stages of training, the gallop should be exacted by increasing the gait from the trot. This early lesson repeated every day will have accustomed the horse to some extent to the gallop, and he will take up the gait readily to the right and to the left, on the circle or at the corner, without the necessity of prolonged pushing from the trot.

(2) Taking the gallop from the slow trot by lateral effect.—We now reach the second step. This new lesson should still be assisted by a somewhat restricted circular movement and the rider will exact a gallop only at the end of a circle or at the corner.

The difficulty of execution will then be slightly increased by requiring the same leads on a circle of greater radius or at the end of a diagonal of a half turn or of the diagonal of the change of hands.

(3) Taking the gallop from the slow trot by diagonal effect.—The series of leads made by lateral effect on small circles, circles and at the end of oblique lines will again be exacted by diagonal effect, and we thus gradually reach the gallop lead on a straight line, being careful to always divide the movement into two parts; first the set and then the impulse that produces the gallop. Thus, for the gallop lead with the right foot.

(a) Collect the horse to the right and pull diagonally on the right rein in order to restrain the left shoulder and