THE SPANISH WALK. 241 



stop and pat him on the neck, and walk him round the school 

 before recommencing. 



In a week, the horse will extend both legs. It goes without 

 saying that I do similar work with his left leg, but in a 

 reversed way. 



From this period, I combine the respective actions of my legs 

 and whip, and in proportion as I obtain the desired effect, I 

 diminish the action of the whip, and increase that of the legs, 

 until I obtain obedience solely by the legs. 



After the horse answers to the indications of the legs, and, if 

 need be, to those of the spurs, by complete extension, I drop 

 the whip, and it is then easy for me to press him up to the 

 bridle, which it would be impossible for me to do on foot. 



I shall now describe in detail the action of the "aids" during 

 the entire movement : the action of the left leg and right rein 

 makes the horse raise his right leg. At the moment he is 

 about to place it on the ground, I press him forward with both 

 legs, the action of which performs the double office of keeping 

 him straight and of obliging him to put down his right leg, 

 completely extended, and in front of his left leg. I keep an 

 equal feeling on both reins during the forward step, up to the 

 time he places his foot on the ground. Then my right leg 

 and left rein, in their turn, make him raise the left leg. The 

 connection between one step and the next one should be made 

 in this manner, and it should be done with great care, so as to 

 obtain perfect regularity of movement. We have then had 

 recourse, as we should always do, to a diagonal effect. 



The Spanish walk can also be practised when reining back, 

 in which case the reins draw the animal back, the moment the 

 extension of the leg is obtained. The difficulty in this back- 

 ward movement is to prevent the hind quarters from turning 

 to the right or left, each time we bring the leg which is in the 

 air, back in rear of the one which is on the ground. 



It often happens that the horse, by going back too quickly, 



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