THE CANTER. 75 



him to circle to the left, to change legs' on the move, 

 to strike, either leg leading at your option, a canter from 

 both the halt and the trot, and to turn to the right and 

 left without alteration of pace. The canter, though collected, 

 should never be so slow as to effect the lightness and 

 spring of the horse's action, and must not be permitted to 

 develop into a hand-gallop. In bringing the horse to a 

 walk, do not permit him to fall first into a trot. Plenty of 

 " Reining-back " practice will tend to get the horse well 

 on his haunches and to develop the use of them ; further, 

 it accustoms the animal to collect himself, to trust to the 

 rider's hand and leg for guidance, and teaches him to yield 

 to his master's will. Never continue the canter too long ; 

 being an unnatural pace it soon tires the horse and shakes 

 his forelegs. The hands must be constantly feeling the 

 mouth in order to retain the head and neck in their proper 

 position, without in any way counteracting the forward 

 impulse communicated by the pressure of the leg and the 

 occasional gentle reminder from the spur, if inclined to get 

 '* behind the bit," or disinclination to go well " up to the 

 hand." A horse may canter as much behind the bit as he 

 pleases, provided he does not flag, and at once, in response 

 to the pressure of the rider's leg, goes forward to the hand. 

 Some well-trained horses canter handsomely be the reins 

 ever so lose. If a horse be inclined to lean on the bit, 

 the best plan is to yield to him, to press both legs and 

 touch him with the spur, by which means he will at once 

 come on his shoulders. A sudden halt from a sharp canter 

 may result, in the case of young horses especially, in 

 throwing out a curb or otherwise injuring the hocks; it is 

 advisable therefore to slacken pace before halting. 



When a horse has struck the canter truly, the rider's chief 

 object must be to collect the pace. With this in view he 



