LESSONS IN RIDING 381 



inust, however, be left to the discretion of the instructor, and if 

 his pupil's seat is not steady enough (and if it is not he cannot 

 be expected to use his hands) he must be kept at straightfor- 

 ward work till the seat improves. In all turns and circles the 

 hands are to be kept down, and the motion is to be made from 

 the wrist and not from the elbow or shoulder, the elbow being 

 kept close to the side but without stiffness. 



LESSON XIII 



The turns and circles at a trot should be continued at a 

 steady pace, and if they are fairly well made and the seat and 

 hands tolerably steady, the pupil may towards the end of the 

 lesson he tried a few steps at a canter. In beginning to canter 

 it will be found to come easier to the rider to put him on a 

 large circle, taking nearly half the school, and begin the canter 

 from a trot ; after he has trotted a few times steadily round the 

 circle, the pace should be a little increased, and the word given 

 to canter just as the horse is coming to the side of the school 

 .after crossing the centre. He is then pretty sure to strike off 

 correctly, that is to say, leading with the off fore leg followed by 

 4he off hind if -going round to the right, and with the near fore 

 followed by the near hind if to the left. It should be explained 

 to the pupil that in striking his horse off at a canter, the fore- 

 hand should be raised by a light feeling of both reins, that the 

 haunches should be kept under him by a pressure of both legs, 

 tut that the inward rein should be felt, and the outward leg 

 closed the stronger, so that the horse strikes off true and 

 united. Of course in beginning this part of the lesson the 

 pupil should be on a very steady horse that knows his work and 

 does not require much riding to make him do what is wanted 

 of him. He must not be allowed to hurry. If the horse is 

 increasing his pace too much, it will be best to bring him to a 

 trot and walk at once. The pupil must be instructed to sit well 

 down on his seat, and not to bear too much weight on the stirrups, 

 as if he does the body will go too much forward, and the 



