CHANGES OF LEG. 169 



chani^e of " aids " ought to be done with great decision and 

 perfect combination. In order for the movement to be well 

 done, it should be executed with extreme quickness, and with- 

 out the slightest jerk. . This quickness and smoothness are 

 possible onl)- if the rider has constantly taken the precaution 

 of lightly feeling the off rein, and of keeping the left leg very 

 close to the animal's side, so that he need only feel this rein a 

 little stronger and press the leg a little more. As the horse 

 has already lightly felt the off rein, and as the left leg has 

 been kept very close to his side, there will be neither jerk nor 

 irritation to the horse when this hand and this leg predomi- 

 nate in their turn. 



Finally, as we have practised our horse to start on the off 

 leg, by the action of the off rein and left leg, and as we ask him 

 to do this first change of leg when turning to the right, which 

 will be easier for him to do than when turning to the left, he will 

 very rarely refuse to do so, even at the first time. If, however, 

 he does not obey, we must not persist in roughly forcing him, 

 because that would cause him to throw his haunches to the 

 right, and make him afraid of the change of leg, which he 

 would not understand. He should be stopped, brought into 

 hand at the walk, made to start on the near fore, and then 

 asked to change his leg. But before doing this we should 

 wait until he has got quiet. 



The fact of the horse failing to do a change of leg several 

 times, is a proof that his preparation is insufficient; that being 

 surprised by the " aids " he tried to escape or throw himself to 

 one side ; or that he did not understand what we wanted. In 

 all these cases we should begin starting him afresh. Any 

 failure in this respect will be extremely rare if the horse has 

 been properly prepared. 



Whenever we meet with a difficulty we should go back to 

 the start, with the near fore leading, or with the off fore lead- 

 ing. B)- these repeated starts with a halt, we shall succeed in 



