Types of horse gallop and riding rules

Horseback riding always requires the rider to maximize concentration and certain skills, especially when it comes to such a gait (method of riding) as the gallop. It is he who is the fastest and most convenient way to travel on a horse. However, the gallop has not only its own unique properties, but also certain varieties. We will talk about them below.

The main feature of this gait lies in the fact that it has not only natural, but also artificial varieties developed by people when working with horses. Moreover, the latter are available only to high-class professionals, their possession is taught for a long time and only in specialized schools.

In general, a gallop is a horse race that allows you to cover even long distances as quickly as possible. This gait has several distinctive features. Let's consider them.

• Horses reach a top speed that can exceed 70 km / h. And this is the highest rate. In other gaits, these animals can accelerate up to 55 km / h maximum.
• Galloping causes quite severe fatigue in animals. Therefore, only the strongest and most enduring horses can move with this gait for a long time.
• In some situations, if the gallop is used by a rider on a weak horse for a long time, it may die or become seriously ill.
• Under natural conditions, horses use gallop only on rare occasions when their lives are in danger.
• There is also the so-called gallop-gait. Its meaning lies in the fact that the horse develops the maximum speed possible, one might say, critical for its health.
• Unlike other variants of movement in this technique there is always a moment when all the limbs of the horse are in the air.
• The horse gallop, in contrast to the basic gaits, conventionally consists of three phases. Phase one - the animal puts one hind leg on the ground. The second - one hind and one forelimb is already supported at the same time. The third phase - the leg from the first phase rises into the air, and the second - the front - on the contrary, descends to the ground.
• If you listen carefully during the movement of the animal, you will hear the clatter of three hooves, corresponding to a specific part of the movement.
• During the execution of this type of gait, the loads on the horse's limbs are distributed absolutely unevenly.

In addition, during the movement of the animal in the arena or paddock, it is the rider who sets the tone for the whole gait. That is, it shows the animal with which leg it is necessary to gallop. In closed spaces, the speed of a horse at this pace ranges from 20 to 30 km / h, which is almost half that of a horse race.

The correct gallop technique is difficult to learn not only for the rider himself, but also for the animal. Therefore, riding in such a gait while riding is possible only for those who have studied its types and subtleties of execution.

Currently, equestrians distinguish several varieties of gallop, which are divided into two large groups.

The main limb is the one on which the horse rests at the end of the second phase, that is, just before joining the undisputed movement.

• Right-handed gallop - this is when the leading limb is right. This type of movement is the most optimal in the arena or paddock, as well as when driving in a circle, when the horse must be regularly turned to the right.
• Left-handed gallop - this is when the leading leg is left. Ideal for jumps and turns to the left.

Many people think that on this basis the canter is divided into 3 groups, although in fact there are five of them.

1. Working gallop. Natural movement of a horse, when the speed of the animal does not exceed 10-15 km / h, and the stride length does not exceed the length of the body. This type of movement is most often chosen by those who prefer jumping over barriers.
2. Frisky (accelerated) gait. It is characterized by the speed of movement of the animal up to 20 km / h. The stride length is slightly longer than usual. This type of driving is usually used at outdoor events and walks, as well as during competitions.
3. Manege (collected) gait. The animal moves slowly, but collected. The main load with this type of riding falls on the pelvic limbs. This gait allows you to quickly and effectively change the type of ride. It is especially popular at competitive events.
4. Field gait (canter). The key mode of movement of the animal. It is considered the best way to test a horse's stamina. Its peculiarity is that the speed of the animal is about 30 km / h. This allows the movement to be carried out fairly quickly over long distances and without severe fatigue of the horse.
5. Frisky gallop (quarry). The most difficult and tiring type of running for a horse. The speed of the animal and its strength are here at the limit, while the horse can cover a distance of 20 meters in one second. The stride width can reach four horse body lengths. Used in exceptional situations and only over short distances.

Only a high-class specialist should teach an animal such gaits. The workouts are long, intense, and must be constantly reinforced by practical arrivals. It is best to teach these types of gallop to a horse only when it has perfectly mastered the technique of performing all other types of gait.

• Backward gallop. It is considered aerobatics. Even today, not all masters and not in every school teach this kind of riding. If we talk about the technique of this gait, then it is the complete opposite of the classical gait of this type. This version of the gallop is usually used only in circus and demonstration performances. A feature of this gait is that not everyone, even the most trained and experienced horse, can master it.
• Gallop on three legs... Has the most difficult execution technique. It is used only in competitions of the highest category. As the name implies, while driving, movement is carried out only on three limbs of the animal. In this case, the fourth leg (one of the front) does not touch the ground at all during the movement. It should be in a strictly elongated position and at a certain height. Like the previous type of artificial gallop, not every animal can master this type.

Artificial canter is difficult to perform both for the horse itself and for its rider. Therefore, it is very important that the rider is experienced and feels good about his horse. Otherwise, movement with an artificial gait can lead to serious injury to both the horse and the rider.

There is a theory that gallop is easiest. It is partly true, but only on condition that the rider sits in the saddle stably, and the animal itself has already worked out the technique of such a ride.

There are three basic rules for galloping a horse. They are also the three main conditions for learning how to put a horse in this gait.

1. The right horse. This is the key factor. The animal should have a soft step and a comfortable fit. It should not only feel good about its rider, but also be able to quickly execute his commands. It is also important here that the horse can carry himself and easily go up the hill, and for this he needs stable limbs, especially the hind ones. Composure and balance are the main prerequisites for a successful and safe landing of the animal.
2. A complete set of properly selected ammunition. Without this, it will be impossible to lift the animal into a gallop with the correct execution of the technique. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that this ammunition includes a neck strap, bridle, cord, goggle and saddle.
3. The right place to train. When an animal jumps in an uncomfortable training area, the gait technique is disrupted. Therefore, it is necessary to choose areas that are closed, with a large area and without sources of extraneous noise.

The basic rules for transferring a horse from one gait to another must also be observed. After all, this is the only way to send from trot to gallop and back. The fact is that it is precisely the accelerated stride (trot) that is the variant of the movement preceding the gallop.

• Before you raise the horse into a gallop, you need to make sure that it is ready. If the animal walks briskly and evenly, it is ready for this, and if it is sluggish and relaxed, then the time has not come for the transition to a gallop.
• The rider sits deeply into the saddle and with effort pulls the left leg in front and up on the girth, and with the opposite hand on the back.
• The reins are pulled with the right hand, but at the same time on the left side, it is slightly loosened.

This procedure is performed when transferring the animal to a left-sided gallop. For the right-sided gait, all movements are performed with opposite hands and in other directions.

If the animal walks correctly, then all that is required of the rider is to maintain the leg in a given position.

If the horse was inexperienced or was not ready for the transition, then instead of being raised into a canter, it could go into a fast trot. In this case, it is transferred to the classic gait of this type, and after a couple of laps in the corral, the attempt is repeated to rise into a gallop.

Such a way of riding as a gallop is really simple and comfortable for the animal and the rider, but only on condition that both of them are ready for such a ride and have enough knowledge and practical experience.

All about canter can be seen in the following video.