32 HORSEMANSHIP, 



well within himself, alongside a companion in a swinging 

 canter or hand-gallop is the extreme concession good taste 

 can sanction. I mean no disrespect to those afflicted with 

 the trotting craze, only let them keep their trotters to the 

 Alexandra Park and such-like unfashionable gatherings. 

 The trot should exhibit a true, equal, and collected action, 

 not lofty or climbing, but "out and on" of the forward 

 throwing description right from the shoulder, the hocks 

 well flexed, and the haunches well tucked under. We see 

 far too much of that horrible rolling funereal ''up to the 

 curb-chain " style of knee action which, in black horses 

 especially, bewrayeth their Friesian origin. Xot a few 

 so-called Norfolk trotters hail from the rich dairy land of 

 this Netherland province. For pleasant attractive riding 

 there must be nothing extravagant. 



The canter — which I may remark wears a horse out and 

 makes him groggy on his fore legs quicker than any 

 pace — is par excellence the easiest pace of the horse, and 

 consequently the most patronized by ladies. It is essentially 

 the lady's pace, and being artificial as to its measured 

 and collected slowness and circumstance, requires careful 

 teaching. Perfect hand and perfect seat can alone impose 

 this stately and delightful action. No horse can canter 

 in perfect form unless he is light of mouth and in his paces, 

 has long, well-laid-back riding shoulders, springy pasterns, 

 can get his haunches well under him, and can " bend him- 

 self," or bring his head down to his chest. This capacity 

 for bending implies a clean throttle — the game-cock throttle 

 — and a well set-on head. In the canter, the horse trained 

 to perfection and handled by an artist, will lead with either 

 leg, but, as a rule, ladies' horses go with the right or off 

 foot forward. He ought to be trained and accustomed to 

 lead with either leg in obedience to the rider's will and 



