The Cowboy Dressage Lope Footfalls Visualized
The Lope is not Canter.
The jog is a 2 beat gait. Separating the Right diagonal pair (right front, left hind) results in the Right lead lope, the horse pushes himself with the Left hind and lands on the Right front, his leading leg.
So, separating the right diagonal pair gives you the right lead. The lope rhythm has 3 beats, meaning 3 steps per stride. The horse is shifting his balance from back to front almost resembling a rocking horse. On a right lead, the horse’s weight is on his back (left hind-1st beat). Then landing together on his Left diagonal pair, which is the right hind and left front (2nd beat), then shifting his weight to the front onto the right leading leg (3rd beat).
There is no moment of suspension in the lope because the Left hind leg (1st beat) enters into the weight bearing phase before the leading Right leg (3rd beat) has completely left the ground.
In the Canter there is a moment of suspension (air time) between the 3rd and 1st beat.
The Palomino horse (fig 1) is Joging on his Right Diagonal.
The Palomino horse (fig 2) is in a moment of suspension.
Not every horse is going to the Olympics…..!
Not every horse is going to the Olympics…..!
For all of you who didn’t get it!
The 3beat Lope is not a NATURAL balanced gait to the horse. The Biomechanics is the same, but not the gait.
The Lope & the Jog was modified by the American Cowboy which had no need of suspension to cross the desert or chase a cow who left the trail.
There is no moment of suspension in the lope because the Left hind leg (1st beat) enters into the weight bearing phase before the leading Right leg (3rd beat) has completely left the ground.
Remember – Not every horse is going to the Olympics…..!
Loping on the Left Lead.
The horse’s outside Hind (right hind) and inside Front (left Front) are the (leading legs).
The horse’s inside Hind (left hind) and inside Front (right Front) are the (Diagonal pair ).
The Lope is a 3 Beat Gate, 3 steps for a stride.
Left Lead – The Horse’s Right Hind (leading leg) strikes the ground for the 1st step (1st beat).
The horse’s inside Hind (left hind) and outside Front (right Front) are the (Diagonal pair) strikes the ground for the 2nd step (2nd beat).
The Horse’s Left Front (inside leading leg) strikes the ground for the 3rd step (3rd beat).
Cue your horse to Lope before the 1st beat strikes the ground.
1. – For the Left Lead, Left Bend. The rider’s Inside Rein and Inside hand (slightly up). Rider’s inside Shoulder (left shoulder back and up) mimicking the horse’s inside shoulder.
2. – Left Bend. The rider’s Inside leg by the cinch and the outside leg behind the cinch, helping to short the inside of the horse and putting weight on the outside hind leg.
3. – Rotate your pelvise upward, INHALE! Lift the horse’s withers up riding him upward and forward with your seat.
