ON PROGRESSION. 201 



But as in the trot he is supported by two 

 legs only, he is more liable to Ml in that pace 

 than in either the walk or the canter, in both of 

 which he has always three legs on the ground 

 at the same period. The trot, particularly in 

 the circle, is well adapted to give freedom and 

 elasticity of motion to a young horse, and to 

 confirm him in his center of gravity. In per- 

 forming this lesson, the outside legs work on a 

 larger circle than those on the inside; he is con- 

 sequently obliged to advance the outside 

 shoulder as much as possible, to keep pace with 

 the inside shoulder, which moves on a smaller 

 extent of ground. The same thing takes place 

 also in the outward hind leg, for the same 

 reason. In working a horse in the circle, it is 

 customary to rein him up tight, so as to restrain 

 his head to one particular position; but this 

 practice tends very much to confine him in his 

 shoulders, and thereby to defeat the intention of 

 the lesson. 



The 



