THE WALK. 59 



The Walk. 



Much valuable instruction is gained from that apparently 

 simple pace, the walk, which, of course, is the first ventured 

 upon, and ought to be practised for some time before any of 

 the other paces are attempted. It is in this slow pace that 

 the rider acquires the fundamental lessons of seat, the aids, 

 of turning, inclining, stopping, reining back, and so forth. 

 The novice, therefore, will do wisely to practise all these 

 movements at the walk,^always keeping his horse well up to 

 his bit and exacting a quick animated step, free from even a 

 suspicion of ambling. The feel on the mouth should be 

 such that every beat of his action is delicately but distinctly 

 felt. The horse must not be permitted to move forward 

 the moment his rider springs from the ground or is in the 

 saddle ; a well trained animal should not stir till he gets 

 the " office " to walk — the slight pressure of both legs and the 

 feel of his mouth equally with both reins. The rider's hands, 

 not more than six inches apart, should then be down just 

 in front of his thighs, with a good long hold of the reins 

 behind the pommel. This is not strict riding-school teach- 

 ing, but the position is unrestrained, it gives the horse's 

 head due liberty, and looks well. He should ride in a per- 

 fectly straight line, diverging neither to the right nor to the 

 left. 



The exercise of the circle, which can be practised in 

 any convenient open space as well as in a riding-house, will 

 be found to greatly assist in giving firmness and grip with 

 balance, also in perfecting the hands, and in developing 

 the aids of body, legs, and whip. In India almost all the 

 school work is al fresco. A piece of ground one hundred 

 and twenty feet long by fifty feet broad should be staked or 



