ii6 ORDINARY RIDING. 



by always keeping the heels close to his sides. With the 

 knees and toes turned inwards, the heels are too far from the 

 sides, and can work only by jerks. Good horsemanship 

 cannot be practised without progressive and delicate!}' effected 

 transitions. 



When the horse readily yields to the legs, I change the 

 feeling on the reins b}- degrees. It is always necessary to 

 finally place the head of the horse on the side to which it is 

 directed. Nevertheless, the change should be made so 

 gradually that the animal will not notice it. 



At first he wall yield to my leg only when I use it, while 

 feeling the rein of the same side — a lateral effect. 1 gradually 

 diminish the tension of the rein, until he will obey the leg by 

 itself, and I then employ both snafifle reins to keep his head 

 straight — direct effect. Finally, I succeed little by little in 

 using the opposite rein — diagonal effect. 



Here progress will be similar to that which was obtained 

 when doing the same movement on foot ; solely by the aid of 

 the w^hip, that is to say, the horse will finish by rotating his 

 croup to the right, while keeping his muzzle to the right ; and 

 vice versa. At this work I never require complete lateral 

 flexion when mounted. A very slight bend towards the side 

 to which we are going is sufficient.* 



Having obtained this result, I teach the horse to do the 

 simple pirouette, in which he turns his shoulders round his 

 hind quarters.! 



We should not onl}- supple the hind quarters, but should 



* When the horse readily yields to the action of the legs, it is well to use them 

 alternately ; but only as an indication, to make the hind quarters slightly yield, in 

 which case a step or two will be sufficient. The rider will thus succeed in 

 sending the hind quarters from one leg to the other leg, and to measure this 

 action. This is the beginning of "equestrian tact." 



t This work can be properly done only when mounted, on account of the 

 necessity of supporting the hind quarters and of pressing the horse forward. 



