Gallopers and Carousels
by cricketjeff on May 17, 2011. © Jeff Green, All rights reserved
A carousel turns widdershins,
Ask any roustabout,
But gallopers go with the sun,
Of that there is no doubt.
The reasoning is plain to see,
You folk drive on the right
And ladies would not sit astride,
It’s very impolite,
So carousels can’t go clockwise,
Or ladies would look in
And gallopers you will surmise
All boast a right hand spin!
Author notes
In continental Europe and in the USA and Canada Merry-Go-Rounds are called
carousels and turn anticlockwise but here in the UK we call them gallopers and
they turn clockwise.
It is believed that this difference is because ladies rode side-saddle with
their feet on the pavement (sidewalk) side of the horse.
English