What is a hand gallop?

Normal, non-gaited horses have four gaits - walk, trot, canter, and gallop. A gallop is normally when the horse is going flat out as fast as possible.

A hand gallop is when the horse is galloping "in the rider's hand." That is to say, the horse is doing the four beats of the gallop and covering ground at a considerable speed, but the rider has not given the animal his head and still has control.

The hand gallop is the speed at which hunters and eventers doing cross country travel. It's thus often asked to be demonstrated in the hunter ring, showing how well the horse can cover ground while remaining under control.