Ekidemy

In Galops 1 to 3 you learnt to stay in the saddle, to steer in all three gaits, to jump small fences and to look after your horse. Galop 4 brings all of that together and completes the rider’s foundation training; Galops 5 to 7 then teach you to school a horse rather than simply ride it.

What you will be able to do

• In the saddle: ride all three gaits with or without contact, turn with inside flexion, strike off into canter from walk, move the shoulders and the quarters, lengthen and shorten the stride.
• Over fences and out hacking: ride a sequence of single fences, stay steady through a grid, and hack out in all three gaits.
• On the ground: keep a contact in hand, back your horse up and bring him to you from a distance, trot him up in hand, lead him over awkward obstacles.
• Caring for him: put on work and travel boots, care for his legs, spot a sick horse.
• Knowledge: the canter, coordinating the aids, flexion and bend, bits, feeding, routine health care, identification and the passport.

How the exam works

Galop 4 has three modules. Module 1, the specific part, covers riding, keeping a contact in hand, work boots, the jumping position and bits. Module 2 (common part A) covers groundwork and care, and module 3 (common part B) covers knowledge. The two common modules are the same in every Galop 4: once passed, they count for all of them.

The Galop is awarded by your instructor, who is qualified and holds an FFE examiner code, either at an exam session or by continuous assessment during lessons. They may sign off one module at a time or all three at once; the Galop is yours when all three are passed. For a Galop 4 session the FFE recommends a panel of at least two examiners, one of them from outside the club. If you are under 18, module 1 can only be passed once you hold the whole of Galop 3.

In the saddle, you will ride either a combined test, or a dressage test and a Club 4 show-jumping round — or a Galop 4 Hunter round, or the equivalent Pony class — as well as a hack out in all three gaits. Afterwards you will be asked to assess your own performance. A hat to current safety standards is compulsory in every mounted test.

How to use these pages

The pages follow the official programme: knowledge and care first, then riding and groundwork, and finally a revision page with a summary sheet, a quiz and a checklist. The “Remember” boxes give you the essentials; the “Safety” boxes are not up for debate.