LESSONS IN RIDING 379 



the motion of another. He may be a little nervous at first, 

 but when he finds that the horse is quiet he will soon be as 

 confident as on the other. If he is not quite at home, it would 

 be as well not to take his stirrups away the first day ; otherwise 

 the lesson should be continued as before. It is very good 

 practice, where a few beginners are riding together, to change 

 their horses once or twice during a lesson, as it not only gives 

 them the practice on different horses, but each one tries to ride 

 his neighbour's horse better than it was ridden before. 



It will also be found that the seat is different on some horses 

 than others. Horses with a round barrel and low in front have 

 .a tendency to work the seat and legs more forward than those 

 with flat sides and good shoulders ; but it is necessary that the 

 pupils should feel the difference. 



LESSON X 



The change of horses should be continued, and the same 

 lesson gone on with. The turns may now be made at a trot, 

 and in doing so care is to be taken that the same pace is kept 

 as in going round the school ; also when crossing the school the 

 horse must not be allowed to hurry or incline, but is to be ridden 

 straight across at the same pace, and on arriving at the opposite 

 side, another square turn must be made to the same hand as he 

 turned before. The pupil should also when walking be taught 

 to circle. On the command ' Circle right ' or ' left ' he should 

 describe a half-circle by feeling the inward rein and closing the 

 outward leg so as to arrive at the centre of the school, then 

 advance on a straight line about two horse's lengths down the 

 middle of the school, and describe andther half-circle to the side. 

 The horse's head should be bent a little to the hand to which 

 he circles, and the hind feet should go over exactly the same 

 ground as the fore feet. About a quarter of the lesson may 

 still be without stirrups, but the instructor must use his discre- 

 tion, especially with the change of horses, as to pace, c. The 

 principal object in making the pupil ride without stirrups is to 



