VOLTES AND DEMI-VOLTES. 163 



more bent than the near ones, and consequently their upward 

 action is better marked and their spring more energetic* 



If we canter to the right, a horse which has an unsound off 

 hock, caused, for instance, by a spavin or curb, he will 

 immediately become disunited, on account of the movement 

 causing him pain. But if we make him canter with the near 

 fore leading, he will not change his hind legs. 



The off hock therefore exerts more force in the canter to 

 the right, and the near hock in the canter to the left. On 

 this account, the rider ought to keep his legs firmly closed, 

 especially during the second period of the canter. By doing 

 this, the hock which is under the body, is quickened in its 

 action, the horse is pressed forward, and is prevented, at the 

 second period of the canter, from remaining longer on the 

 ground than at the first or third period. If we do not act 

 thus, the second period will be slower and heavier than the 

 other two. 



VOLTES AND DEMI-VOLTES AT THE CANTER. 



When I have taught a horse to canter in a light and easy 

 way, I make him do great voltes. It is best to describe large 

 circles at first, because it is more difficult to keep a horse 

 straight in small ones. 



Horses generally carry their haunches either to the outside 

 or to the inside ; the former fault being more easy to remedy 

 than the latter. 



Let us suppose that the horse is cantering with the off fore 

 leading and is turning to the right. After having closed the 

 legs, I carry the hands forward and to the right, — forward to 

 prevent him stopping, and to the right to bring his shoulders 



* Among ladies' horses which always canter with the oft" fore leading, the off" 

 hock always becomes prematurely worn out. Ladies do not like to canter to the 

 left, because it displaces their seat too much. As they are seated on the near side 

 of the horse, the propulsion given by the off" hock is not made exactly under their 

 seat, hence the displacement is less than in the canter to the left. 



II* 



