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previously to their being ricklen on the road or field, be sent to the riding- 

 liouse, and be set moderately upon their haunches, for howe\er good 

 their mouths may be, they have been too much accustomed to the long- 

 in"- form of going, to be either pleasant or safe upon the road. In our 

 breeding counties, there is certainly a A^*ant of riding-schools, at least of 

 able masters, and indeed, in a country of horsemen, like England, one 

 would suppose every city or large town, would maintain a riding-school. 



General Practice. A managed Horse will go smoothly, and with- 

 out embarrassment, on either hand, or with either foot first, but road- 

 horses and hunters should always lead with the right foot; it is the natural 

 action of the Horse, as may be seen in the cantering of the foal, and a 

 Horse leading with the left foot goes unpleasantly to the rider. In the 

 race-horse it is not regarded, but if he be much stiffened by work, 

 changing his feet in the gallop, gives the rider a considerable shock, 

 indeed, sufficient to derange his seat, unless it be a practised one. Td 

 oblige the Horse to take his right foot, press the calf of the left leg, or 

 the left heel to his side, at the same time sliortening the right rein, 

 more particularly the curb. If on his pace it is more convenient, first to 

 turn him a little to the left, and then put him upon his right foot, and 

 this last seems to have been the method directed by Xenophon. Adams 

 is of opinion, that the leason some Horses lead generally with the left 

 foot is, that in breaking, they had only been longed to the left, which 

 is the easiest to an ordinary breaker; whereas a colt should ever be 

 longed to both hands. 



A caution has already been given, under the head of breaking the 

 colt, acrainst the miserable habit which ordinary Horses are suffered to 

 acquire, of confusing, or running the paces, one into the other, or of 

 commencing a pace im[)roperly. When it is not required by haste, the 

 Horse should not be put from his trot, into either the canter or gallop, 

 because it will render him unsteady in his trot. Pull him into a walk, 

 and then start him into the other paces. A good canterer will at once 

 start readily and handsomely into that pace, on a signal of convention 

 between him and his rider. Mine is to tap the crest with the whip handle, 

 and press gently the curb rein. I also use the word stop, to stop the 

 canterer, which if a short and united goer, receives no damage from 



dropping 



