i8o ORDINARY RIDING. 



At an ordinary trot, a horse should be let as free as possible. 

 We should keep him well in hand, with his head and neck 

 high, so that he may be light by being well-balanced. 



In the fast trot, the head and neck should be nearly hori- 

 zontal, so as to allow the animal to reach forward as far as 

 possible. The horse ought to go freely up to the bridle, 

 and the rider ought to keep only a light feeling on the 

 snaffle. 



There are three kinds of canter,* namely, the well-collected 

 canter, the hand gallop, and the fnll-speed gallop. 



In the zvell-collected canter (strong action of the legs 

 and slight action of the hands : taking and giving), while 

 gaining but little ground, he should carry his head and neck 

 high. 



The hand gallop is a shortened gallop, which should be 

 well-collected, if the rider is worthy of that name ; but in it 

 the horse is almost always behind his bit and extended. 

 If we go to the Bois any morning, we shall see many of 

 these unfortunate thorough-breds, which are worthy of a 

 better fate, fully extended, with their hind legs dragging 

 behind, head and neck low, and going stiffly in a mechanical 

 style of gallop. Such horses caricature the movements of 

 a gallop, while having a man on their back ; but this 

 inelegant combination has nothing to do with equitation. 

 In the hand gallop we should give some liberty to the 

 horse, and as we press him up to the hand, we should pro- 

 portionately support him. Although the collection is not full, 

 our legs should bring his hocks well under the body. 



In the full -speed or race-course gallop, the horse should 

 lean well on the hands, and should stretch out his head and 

 neck. Although he is not collected, the hocks are not less 

 energetically brought under his body ; for speed could not 

 be obtained without their action. 



'"^ In French, the same word is used for " canter " and " gallop " — Translator. 



