HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 101 



forward into a canter by the application of both legs, the out- 

 ward the stronger. 



The rider should be pretty well able to judge by the feel- 

 ing of his horse under him the exact moment to press his 

 horse into a canter so as to ensure his striking off correctly, 

 that is to say, with his inward legs leading. It will generally 

 be found that the opportunity offers itself most frequently just 

 in the act of rounding off one of the corners, or when coming 

 to the side of the school after crossing the centre of it. In the 

 first lessons of the young horse in cantering, it is best, instead of 

 trying to raise his forehand by feeling the reins, to yield the 

 hand at the same time as you close the legs, and trust to the 

 application of the legs at the proper moment to ensure the 

 horse striking off into his canter correctly. In case he does 

 happen to get off false, that is to say, leading with his outward 

 legs, too much notice need not be taken. He may be allowed 

 to drop quietly into a trot, and after trotting a time or two round 

 try again. 



If he go off true and united at the first attempt, keep the 

 legs close to him so as to prevent him from dropping into a 

 trot for a few times round the circle, then quietly trot, walk, 

 and halt, and make much of him, give him his head for a short 

 time altogether to let him get his wind, for in the early lessons 

 in cantering it does not require a great deal of it to take a lot 

 out of him. Then, after he has rested, work him a short time 

 in the bending lesson, and after reining back a few steps, keep, 

 ing him well up to the hand, put him on the circle again, and 

 try in the same manner as before to get a few steps from him 

 at a canter the other way round. Great care must be taken 

 when pulling up that it is not done too suddenly so as to run 

 the chance of straining the horse. Most young horses go in a 

 rough awkward style when first learning to canter, and this is 

 not improved by the rider trying to collect them too soon. As 

 a rule, in beginning they require plenty of support from the 

 rider's legs and not too much restraint from his hands, but it 

 too frequently happens, especially if the horse go a little more 



