SEE-SAW PIAFFER. 313 



which did it more or less brilhantly, according to their degrees 

 of energy. 



It is very difficiilt to explain how to teach the see-saw 

 piaffer, but I will try to do so. 



It will at first be seen that this movement should not be 

 required from any horse, unless he can do the slow and high 

 piaffer. As such an animal, when doing this exercise, has 

 extreme mobility, the slightest feeling on the reins will be 

 sufficient to make him bring a leg a little back, in the same 

 way that the smallest increase in the pressure of the spur 

 will cause him to bring a leg a little forward. 



Being at the piaffer, we ought, by means of the legs, to make 

 the horse bring his near hind under him where he puts it 

 down. The right diagonal being in support, the near fore — 

 which, under the same action of the legs of the rider, has been 

 carried forward at the moment when the near hind is placed 

 under the animal's body— remains held up in the air, the 

 knee bent, and the off hind also in the air (Fig. 66). Immedi- 

 ately the hand ought to act, in order to bring back the near 

 fore, which is about to be placed behind the off fore, and 

 which forms, along with the off hind, the left diagonal sup- 

 port ; whilst the near hind, in its turn, does a time in the 

 air, and the off fore performs its movement in the piaffer.* 

 (Fig. 67.) 



We can see that in the forward movement the near 

 hind is placed in front of the off hind (Fig. 66), and that in 

 the retrograde movement the near fore is placed behind 

 the off fore (Fig. 6y). This is the cause of the see-saw action 

 from the rear to the front. 



If the reader understands my explanations he will observe 



* On comparing Fig. 67 with Fig. 66, we will see that in the movement to the 

 rear, the snaffle reins are drawn a little tighter than those of the curb. The angle 

 of the cheek of the curb is very little more open, and the seat presses the horse 

 back. 



