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
Dressage option: towards the Club 1 test
In the dressage option, you ride a Galop 7 test at Club 1 level and a sequence of movements like the Club 1 Preliminary. On the programme: counter-canter from walk, canter-walk-canter transitions, rein-back followed by moving off at once, and 10 m circles.
In the exam programme
- Sit in a correct, active position suited to the sequence of movements and to the horse’s work.Dressage
- Ride 10 m circles and serpentines at the trot, on the bend.Dressage
- Ride circles of 10 to 15 m at the canter, on the bend.Dressage
- Ride canter-walk-canter transitions.Dressage
- Strike off into counter-canter from the walk.Dressage
- Ride 20 m curves in counter-canter.Dressage
- Rein back three to five steps and move off at once.Dressage
- Link movements keeping an even cadence in each gait.Dressage
- Keep the right speed in each gait through a sequence of movements.Dressage
- Steer on an exact track through a sequence of movements.Dressage
Everything rests on a correct, active position: sitting deep in the saddle, the pelvis supple, the upper body upright and held, the legs long, the hands independent. “Active” means your position is not frozen: it prepares each movement a little before it arrives and adapts to the horse’s work. Shoulder-in and the double bridle are also part of the option: each has its own page.
- 10 m circle in trot: ridden from the track, it just touches the centre line
- Serpentine with 10 m loops, in trot
- 15 m circle in canter
- 20 m half circle in counter-canter: left lead on a right-hand curve
Circles and serpentines
In trot, circles and serpentines 10 m across; in canter, circles of 10 to 15 m, always on the bend. The smaller the curve, the clearer the bend must be and the more the inside hind must step under. Prepare each circle with a half-halt, look at the point where it closes, and keep the same rhythm from the first step to the last. In an arena 20 m wide, a 10 m circle ridden from the track just touches the centre line.
Counter-canter
A reminder from Galop 6: in counter-canter, the horse deliberately canters on the lead opposite to the curve — left lead on a curve to the right — the flexion staying towards the leading leg. At Galop 7, you ask for it from walk, then hold it on 20 m curves.
- Strike off from walkOn the right rein, on the long side, in an active walk with the horse straight: half-halt, then the aids for left canter — slight flexion to the left, left leg at the girth, right leg behind the girth, a seat that goes with the movement.
- Keep the leadThe horse stays on the left lead, slightly flexed to the left; your weight stays evenly spread, without leaning into the curve.
- Turn wideRide gradually into the 20 m curve. The right rein guides without twisting the neck, the right leg holds the quarters. The shakier the balance, the gentler the curve must be.
- Come backTransition to trot or walk on the next straight line, the horse straight.
Common mistake
Leaning into the curve or turning by pulling on the rein on that side: the surest way to trigger a change of lead, or to make the horse go disunited, its forelegs and hind legs then cantering on different leads.
Canter-walk-canter transitions
From canter, go straight to walk, with no trot steps: prepare with half-halts, sit, close your fingers, and keep your legs in contact so the horse does not die away. Walk a few clear steps — three to five — then strike off again on the lead asked for. You are looking for a clean transition, neither an abrupt stop nor jogging steps, a straight horse and a true four-beat walk.
Rein-back and move off
From a square, still halt, close your legs slightly behind the girth while keeping your fingers closed: the horse steps back in diagonal pairs, as you saw at Galop 6. Count 3 to 5 steps, then move straight off forwards, without a halt. The horse steps back straight, without resisting, dragging its feet or rushing.
Linking the movements
- Rhythm: each gait keeps its rhythm from one movement to the next, on curves as well as after transitions.
- Speed: find the right speed for each gait and keep it; a horse that speeds up on the straights and slows down in the corners loses marks everywhere.
- Accuracy: each movement starts and finishes at its letter, as your upper body passes it; circles are round, straight lines are straight.
- Planning ahead: a half-halt before every change; the next movement is prepared during the one before.
Tip
The test sheets are published on the FFE’s website. Learn yours by drawing it on paper, then walking it on foot in the arena before you ride it.
A word from the instructor
Counter-canter is the one moment in a test when you are praised for being on the wrong leg. Enjoy it while it lasts.