Galop 7In the saddle
Contents
- 01WelcomeOverview
- 02Limb conformationKnowledge
- 03Identification, the passportKnowledge
- 04Travelling horsesKnowledge
- 05RationingKnowledge
- 06Feed labelsKnowledge
- 07Lunging training aidsOn foot
- 08Long-reining, flexionOn foot
- 09Polo bandagesCaring for the horse
- 10The double bridleCaring for the horse
- 11Shoulder-inKnowledge
- 12StraightnessKnowledge
- 13FlatworkIn the saddle
- 14Dressage optionIn the saddle
- 15Show-jumping optionIn the saddle
- 16Cross-country optionIn the saddle
- 17RevisionRevision
On the bit, long and low, bent: flatwork
Whatever your option, Galop 7 begins on the flat: a horse on the bit in all three gaits, able to stretch long and low, to bend and change its bend, to lengthen and shorten its stride — and a rider who knows how to warm it up.
In the exam programme
- Have your horse on the bit in all three gaits.Specific part
- Be able to ride it long and low at walk and trot.Specific part
- Bend your horse on curves and through changes of bend.Specific part
- Vary the stride length in all three gaits and link transitions.Specific part
- Warm up your horse following your instructor’s directions.Specific part
On the bit in all three gaits
A reminder from Galop 6: a horse is on the bit when, thanks to the engagement of its hind legs, it takes up its reins evenly and steadily, forwards and down, flexed at the poll, the front of its face slightly in front of the vertical, with no resistance in the mouth. The contact comes from behind, never from hands that pull. At Galop 7 it is no longer a matter of getting there for a few strides, but of staying there: in all three gaits, on curves and through transitions.
- In walk, the hands follow the swing of the neck: a fixed hand blocks that movement and spoils the walk.
- In trot, the hands stay steady and low, the contact even at every stride.
- In canter, the arms follow the movement of the head at every stride, without losing the contact.
On the bit
The poll the highest point, the face a little in front of the vertical, the back working.
Long and low
The neck low and rounded, the nose forward, still in contact: the back lifts.
Behind the bit
The face behind the vertical, the chin towards the chest: the horse curls up.
Above the bit
The head high, the nose poking out, the neck upside down: the back hollows.
Long and low
Riding your horse long and low means asking it to lower and round its neck, nose in front of the vertical, while staying in the contact and keeping its activity. The back lifts, the topline muscles stretch: it is the outline of relaxation, at the start and end of a session or after a difficult exercise. Start from a horse that is on the bit and active; lower and advance your hands a little, give as soon as the neck goes down, and keep your legs on so that it does not fall onto its forehand. To come back, shorten the reins gradually while riding forwards.
Common mistake
Long and low does not mean curled up: a horse whose face goes behind the vertical, chin towards its chest, no longer stretches its back and leans on its shoulders.
Bending and changing the bend
At Galop 6 you bent your horse on large curves. Now you must change the bend: serpentines, changes of rein through the circle, figures of eight. Between two curves, straighten the horse for a stride or two, then swap your aids: new inside leg at the girth, new outside leg slightly behind, new inside rein for the flexion, new outside rein to regulate it. In rising trot, change your diagonal during that straight moment.
Varying the stride, linking transitions
Stride length is how long the strides are. Varying it means lengthening or shortening the strides without changing the rhythm: the horse goes faster because its strides get longer, not because it takes more of them.
| Gait | Shorten | Lengthen |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | Shorter, more active steps, still in four-beat. | The horse stretches out, its hind feet landing clearly beyond the prints of the forefeet. |
| Trot | Shorter, higher strides, at the same rhythm. | Longer strides, the horse stretching within the frame of the reins, without rushing. |
| Canter | A shorter canter, the horse carrying itself more, still in three-beat. | A bigger canter that covers more ground without the horse falling onto its forehand. |
Transitions, within a gait as well as from one gait to another, are linked by preparing each one with a half-halt: a brief action of the seat and fingers, backed up by the legs, which rebalances the horse a stride or two before the request.
The warm-up
At Galop 6 you warmed your horse up on your own, under your instructor’s eye. At Galop 7 you follow their directions — how long, which exercises, how high the fences — and adapt them to what you feel.
- Loosen upWalk on a long rein, then rising trot and canter in a light seat, the neck free or long and low.
- Get goingTransitions, curves on both reins, on the bit, bend.
- Prepare for the testThe movements of the dressage test, or a few fences of increasing difficulty. At a show, follow the rules of the warm-up arena and jump the practice fences with the red flag on your right and the white on your left.
- Keep the horse readyIf the wait drags on, walk; before going into the ring, bring back a few minutes of activity.