本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛The Trot, Slow Trot, and Jog
The trot is an even, two-beat gait and sounds like this: DUM, DUM, DUM, DUM. The horse alternately places the two diagonal pairs of feet on the ground. After each pair strikes the ground, there is a moment of suspension during which there is no contact with the ground. But in spite of the moment of suspension, the trot is a stable gait. It is the most regular and rhythmical, and the most easily balanced for both horse and rider.
The normal trot develops muscles throughout the body of the horse and especially in his legs. Trotting up and down hills helps to strengthen the hindquarters of young horses. The trot will exercise a high-spirited and/or insecure horse, when he may be too excitable for control at a faster gait, or when the walk may quiet him but does not give enough exercise to work him out. If the riding ring or trail is slightly muddy, the slow trot may be used because the horse is well balanced and there is not as much danger of him slipping. The horse will tend to stay more alert than at a walk. This is especially true at the posting trot, and he will also naturally carry himself in his best manner.
Since there is little motion in the horse's upper body at the trot, the rider tends to stiffen his back. This is in contrast to the walk and lope, both of which contribute to suppleness of the back. Riders often sit the slow trot and rise (post) to the normal trot. The reason for posting is to make the faster trot more enjoyable to both horse and rider. It is customary to post to the outside diagonal when riding in a ring; that is, to rise as the horse's outside shoulder and leg move forward. For example, when trotting to the left (or posting to the right diagonal), the rider rises as the horse's right (outside) shoulder and leg move forward and sits again as the right shoulder and leg come back.
Why should you post to a given diagonal? When trotting in a circle, the outside legs of the horse are describing a larger circle than the inside legs. By posting we tend to relieve the outside muscles, helping the horse to improve his balance and to develop his muscles an equal amount on both sides. If you were to ride a horse whose previous riders had posted to only one diagonal, you would notice one diagonal to be distinctly more rough and uneven than the other. (Riding experts do not all agree that it is best to post on the outside diagonal – some say it helps the horse more to post on the inside diagonal. This is a matter of debate, however. In English equitation classes in the United States, it is customary and correct to post on the outside diagonal.
On the trail or when traveling in a straight line, it does not matter which diagonal you take, but change it often so as not to tire your horse.
In Western riding the term “log” or “log trot” is used instead of "slow trot" or "trot." The jog is usually a bit slower than the slow trot. Some horse- show judges prefer a "collected" log; some, a faster jog. (These terms are defined in the glossary.) The faster jog would normally be used on the trail because it is a more relaxed gait, and because the horse's head is lower and therefore in a better position to see irregularities of the ground. As a rule, the collected jog would be better used in the show ring, where impulsion, presence, and carriage of the horse are more important.
The Canter, Gallop, and Lope
The canter is a natural three-beat gait. It sounds this way: ba-da-DUM, ba-da-DUM. When on the right lead, the sequence of hoofbeats is: near-hind, off-hind and near-fore together, off-fore, and period of suspension. Because the three beats of the gait are not executed equally by the right and left legs, it is possible to have the opposite pattern of hoofbeats. In this case the horse is on the left lead, and the sequence is: off-hind, near-hind and off-fore together, near-fore, and suspension.
Although the gallop is essentially the same gait, it has four beats: ba-da-DUM, ba-da-DUM. The sequence of the beats on a right lead is: (first beat) near-hind, near-hind and (second beat) off-hind, off-hind and (third beat) near-fore, near-fore alone, near-fore and (fourth beat) off-fore, off-fore alone, and period of suspension.
The canter should be balanced and collected; that is, the horse’s weight should be supported about equally by the hindquarters and the forehand. To accomplish this, his hind legs must be well under him, not trailing behind. At the canter the horse is not truly straight. His spine, from head to tail, is flexed to one side or the other (depending on direction), so as to be slightly and evenly arched.
As at the trot, the horse when cantering should develop his muscles equally on both sides. Most horses have a natural preference for either the left or the right lead. If they are given no specific direction, many horses will almost always canter on the preferred lead. This tends to develop muscles on one side only, allowing the horse to become stiff on the other side. It is important for this tendency to be corrected early in their training by giving extra practice on the unfavored lead, thereby developing all-around suppleness.
To recognize which lead the horse is taking, watch the forefeet (if you are watching the horse from the ground), or glance down at the shoulders if you are mounted. In the recurring pattern of the canter, the left foot (and shoulder) always reaches farther ahead than the right when on the left lead. (This may appear as though t. he left foreleg has started the pattern of the canter. Actually the canter begins with a hind leg and this in turn initiates the takeoff of the opposite foreleg. On a left lead, it is the right hind leg that initiates the three-beat pattern.)
Do not confuse leads and diagonals. Remember to keep in mind that at the canter to the left, the horse is on the left lead. At the trot to the left, that rider posts on the outside, or right, diagonal.
Work at the canter will supple the young horse’s back and loins. And this, of course, will also help to improve his trot. He will also develop in balance, control (responsiveness to the aids), and confidence in his rider.
The lope is the Western term for the canter. It should be a “rocking chair” gait. In Western equitation classes, horse and rider tend to appear more relaxed than in English equitation. There is usually not as much emphasis on collection.
Under Western working conditions, a fast lope may be called for suddenly to check bolting calves or for other reasons. Working cowhorses are usually ridden with a more severe bit and loose rein. Here form often takes second place to getting the job done. A good cowhorse will have developed balance (he’ll use the correct lead naturally), timing, and “cow sense”. He can think like a cow, anticipate her moves, and be prepared for them with little help from the rider. In fact, the rider uses a loose rein so as not to interfere with his horse.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
The trot is an even, two-beat gait and sounds like this: DUM, DUM, DUM, DUM. The horse alternately places the two diagonal pairs of feet on the ground. After each pair strikes the ground, there is a moment of suspension during which there is no contact with the ground. But in spite of the moment of suspension, the trot is a stable gait. It is the most regular and rhythmical, and the most easily balanced for both horse and rider.
The normal trot develops muscles throughout the body of the horse and especially in his legs. Trotting up and down hills helps to strengthen the hindquarters of young horses. The trot will exercise a high-spirited and/or insecure horse, when he may be too excitable for control at a faster gait, or when the walk may quiet him but does not give enough exercise to work him out. If the riding ring or trail is slightly muddy, the slow trot may be used because the horse is well balanced and there is not as much danger of him slipping. The horse will tend to stay more alert than at a walk. This is especially true at the posting trot, and he will also naturally carry himself in his best manner.
Since there is little motion in the horse's upper body at the trot, the rider tends to stiffen his back. This is in contrast to the walk and lope, both of which contribute to suppleness of the back. Riders often sit the slow trot and rise (post) to the normal trot. The reason for posting is to make the faster trot more enjoyable to both horse and rider. It is customary to post to the outside diagonal when riding in a ring; that is, to rise as the horse's outside shoulder and leg move forward. For example, when trotting to the left (or posting to the right diagonal), the rider rises as the horse's right (outside) shoulder and leg move forward and sits again as the right shoulder and leg come back.
Why should you post to a given diagonal? When trotting in a circle, the outside legs of the horse are describing a larger circle than the inside legs. By posting we tend to relieve the outside muscles, helping the horse to improve his balance and to develop his muscles an equal amount on both sides. If you were to ride a horse whose previous riders had posted to only one diagonal, you would notice one diagonal to be distinctly more rough and uneven than the other. (Riding experts do not all agree that it is best to post on the outside diagonal – some say it helps the horse more to post on the inside diagonal. This is a matter of debate, however. In English equitation classes in the United States, it is customary and correct to post on the outside diagonal.
On the trail or when traveling in a straight line, it does not matter which diagonal you take, but change it often so as not to tire your horse.
In Western riding the term “log” or “log trot” is used instead of "slow trot" or "trot." The jog is usually a bit slower than the slow trot. Some horse- show judges prefer a "collected" log; some, a faster jog. (These terms are defined in the glossary.) The faster jog would normally be used on the trail because it is a more relaxed gait, and because the horse's head is lower and therefore in a better position to see irregularities of the ground. As a rule, the collected jog would be better used in the show ring, where impulsion, presence, and carriage of the horse are more important.
The Canter, Gallop, and Lope
The canter is a natural three-beat gait. It sounds this way: ba-da-DUM, ba-da-DUM. When on the right lead, the sequence of hoofbeats is: near-hind, off-hind and near-fore together, off-fore, and period of suspension. Because the three beats of the gait are not executed equally by the right and left legs, it is possible to have the opposite pattern of hoofbeats. In this case the horse is on the left lead, and the sequence is: off-hind, near-hind and off-fore together, near-fore, and suspension.
Although the gallop is essentially the same gait, it has four beats: ba-da-DUM, ba-da-DUM. The sequence of the beats on a right lead is: (first beat) near-hind, near-hind and (second beat) off-hind, off-hind and (third beat) near-fore, near-fore alone, near-fore and (fourth beat) off-fore, off-fore alone, and period of suspension.
The canter should be balanced and collected; that is, the horse’s weight should be supported about equally by the hindquarters and the forehand. To accomplish this, his hind legs must be well under him, not trailing behind. At the canter the horse is not truly straight. His spine, from head to tail, is flexed to one side or the other (depending on direction), so as to be slightly and evenly arched.
As at the trot, the horse when cantering should develop his muscles equally on both sides. Most horses have a natural preference for either the left or the right lead. If they are given no specific direction, many horses will almost always canter on the preferred lead. This tends to develop muscles on one side only, allowing the horse to become stiff on the other side. It is important for this tendency to be corrected early in their training by giving extra practice on the unfavored lead, thereby developing all-around suppleness.
To recognize which lead the horse is taking, watch the forefeet (if you are watching the horse from the ground), or glance down at the shoulders if you are mounted. In the recurring pattern of the canter, the left foot (and shoulder) always reaches farther ahead than the right when on the left lead. (This may appear as though t. he left foreleg has started the pattern of the canter. Actually the canter begins with a hind leg and this in turn initiates the takeoff of the opposite foreleg. On a left lead, it is the right hind leg that initiates the three-beat pattern.)
Do not confuse leads and diagonals. Remember to keep in mind that at the canter to the left, the horse is on the left lead. At the trot to the left, that rider posts on the outside, or right, diagonal.
Work at the canter will supple the young horse’s back and loins. And this, of course, will also help to improve his trot. He will also develop in balance, control (responsiveness to the aids), and confidence in his rider.
The lope is the Western term for the canter. It should be a “rocking chair” gait. In Western equitation classes, horse and rider tend to appear more relaxed than in English equitation. There is usually not as much emphasis on collection.
Under Western working conditions, a fast lope may be called for suddenly to check bolting calves or for other reasons. Working cowhorses are usually ridden with a more severe bit and loose rein. Here form often takes second place to getting the job done. A good cowhorse will have developed balance (he’ll use the correct lead naturally), timing, and “cow sense”. He can think like a cow, anticipate her moves, and be prepared for them with little help from the rider. In fact, the rider uses a loose rein so as not to interfere with his horse.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net