THE CHANGES IN THE GALLOP. 65 



It is important that the rider should be aware of 

 the moment the change should be begun, and, from 

 the little that is known upon the subject, horsemen 

 must be largely directed by practice in finding the 

 best way of giving the prescribed aids ; and that 

 this is true is shown by the fact that school horses 

 in their early training usually begin to make the 

 changes with the fore-legs, and after the rider and 

 the horse come into better accord the changes are 

 begun by the hind-legs. And I have often seen a 

 horse, when the changes were made a number of 

 times, use first one mode and then the other. 

 After the reader fixes in his mind the differences of 

 the two modes, his eye will plainly show him by 

 which a passing horse is changing. 



To procure the change of lead beginning with 

 the hind-legs, the opposite spur should be applied as 

 the leading fore-leg comes to the ground, so that 

 the hind-legs will begin to change as they are freed 

 from the ground (Figs. 6 and i). The direct rein 

 should make play as the centre of gravity passes 

 over the leading fore-leg (Fig. i). The lower the 

 action of the horse the more closely together must 

 be the effects of the aids ; in the canter they must 

 be used together ; in a well-united gallop of three 

 beats, and in the school-gallop, the hand should act 

 after the spur has had its effect. 



