As to the character of the gallop, when we press a horse in the trot
beyond his capacity, or animate him with the legs while we raise or
retain him with the hand, we compel him to lift his two fore-feet after
each other, which commences the gallop. The near fore-foot is first
raised from the ground; then the off fore-foot, which, however, passes
the other, and they come to the ground in the same order, the near
fore-foot making one beat, and the off fore-foot another, that being
the most advanced or leading foot. The hind feet follow in the same
manner; the near hind-foot marking a third beat, and the off hind-foot
passing forward, and marking a fourth beat. Thus, when this pace is
united and true, the feet mark a regular, sharp, and quick time of
one, two, three, four. The perfection of the gallop consists in the
suppleness of the limbs, the union of the horse, the justness of the
action, and the regularity of the time.
The gallop is of three kinds--that of the racer, that of the hunter,
and that of the pleasure horse, commonly called the canter. The
last of these is by far the most difficult, as it requires skill to
fore-shorten and throw the horse on his haunches. In the gallop, as in
the trot, there is a leading foot. On a straight line, it is immaterial
with which fore-leg the horse leads, provided the hind-leg of the same
side follows it. But to lead always with the same leg is injurious.
In galloping to the right, the horse must lead with the inward or off
fore-leg, followed by the off hind-leg. This action is termed true or
united.--(Plate XL. [69] shows this in the canter.) In galloping to the
left, he must lead with the inward or near fore-leg, followed by the
near hind-leg. This also is termed true or united.[70]
[69] In galloping to the right, if the horse lead with the off
fore-leg and near hind-leg, or if he lead with the near fore-leg and
off hind-leg, he is said to be disunited. If, in galloping to the
right, he lead with both near legs, he is said to be false.
[70] In galloping to the left, if the horse lead with the near
fore-leg and off hind-leg, or if he lead with the off fore-leg and
near hind-leg, he is said to be disunited. If, in galloping to the
left, he lead with both off legs, he is said to be false.
[Illustration: _Plate XL_
_Page 152._