OF THE PIAFFER. 191 



by the horse with an exactness and a propos 

 that is unequalled. It is by the alternated 

 support of the two legs that he will succeed 

 in prolonging the lateral balancings of the 

 horse s body, in such way as to keep him 

 longer on one side or the other. He will seize 

 the moment when the horse prepares to rest 

 his fore-leg on the ground, to make the pres 

 sure of his own leg felt on the same side, 

 and add to the inclination of the animal in 

 the same direction. If this time is well 

 seized, the horse will balance himself slowly, 

 and the cadence will acquire that elevation 

 so fit to bring out all its elegance and all its 

 majesty. These times of the legs are diffi 

 cult, and require great practice ; but their 

 results are too splendid for the rider not to 

 strive to seize the light variations of them. 



The precipitate movement of the rider s 

 legs accelerates also the piaffer. It is he, 

 then, who regulates at will the greater or 



