96 ^ ORDINARY RIDING. 



pling the horse, and is also the most certain means for making 

 the rider use his two legs in a timely way. 



We do not learn to always keep our horse straight by con- 

 tinually " going large " ; because in this case the croup can 

 swerve only to one side. Also, I often work my horses, while 

 keeping them at one yard, and in large schools, at two yards 

 from the wall 



We may further note that during the entire period of 

 breaking, the horse tries to keep as little straight as possible. 

 He will understand that if he carries his croup to one side he 

 will escape being collected, which consists in the hind quarters 

 propelling the body in the direction of its axis. 



The best work for suppling the horse is the figure of 8 per- 

 formed a yard from the wall, at the walk, trot and canter; but 

 it should be done with the greatest possible correctness, namely, 

 with a light inward flexion of the neck, an energetic applica- 

 tion of the outw^ard leg, and support from the inward leg. 



By preparing a horse to readily change the diagonal at the 

 walk, we also prepare him to start into the canter, and to 

 change his leg. On arriving at the centre, we make the horse 

 take two or three steps to the side, and we start him in the 

 required position on a new diagonal. We should take great 

 care to keep him straight, especially at the canter, because at 

 this delicate work, the horse has always a tendency to throw 

 his croup inwards, so as to escape the outward spur, which has 

 helped to straighten him, and against which he tries to guard 

 himself Hence the necessity, as I have recommended, of 

 opposing the inward leg. Finally, we can obtain impulsion 

 only by closing both legs. 



LATERAL FLEXIONS. 



Up to the present I have made the changes of direction 

 only in a rudimentary way. In the same manner, as my first 

 lesson was to drive the horse forward, I only require him at 



