HORSEMANSHIP. 



should keep his hands low, with a long, easy hold of the 

 reins in both hands, and his legs close to the horse's body, 

 whose hind quarters must be kept in a straight line with the 

 forehand. The motion of an easy canter is as comfortable 

 as that of a rocking-chair, but when the action is false, i.e. 

 disunited with the fore, or disunited with the hind legs, it is 

 the very reverse, and immediately makes itself felt. There 

 are three distinct movements in the canter which are false : 

 First, w^hen in cantering to the right, the near fore foot leads, 

 followed by the near hind. Second, the horse is said to be 

 " disunited with the fore," when in cantering to the right the 

 near fore leg is leading. Third, "disunited with the hind 

 legs," when the both hind feet do not make the same length 

 of pace, the off hind remaining or being put down further 

 back than the near one. All riding horses, from the race- 

 horse to the child's pony, should be taught by the pressure 

 of the rider's legs to bring their haunches under them on all 

 occasions, whether at the halt or at the speed. To correct 

 false or disunited action, the most certain method for the 

 beginner will be to pull up into a walk and then strike off 

 properly again. But if this is not, especially when riding in 

 company, convenient, the rider must pull him up into a trot, 

 feel both reins to the left, the horse's head being kept slightly 

 bent to the right, firmly close the pressure of the left leg, 

 touch him with that spur, and throw as much weight as 

 possible into the near stirrup. This will bring his haunches 

 in and rectify the fault. In the second instance, in order to 

 raise his whole forehand, close both legs on him, let him 

 feel both spurs, feel both reins to the left, his head still slightly 

 inclined to the right and throw the weight on the near fore 

 leg. In the third case, the object is to impede the action 

 of the near hind leg to bring that of the off hind further 

 under him and so restore his balance. His head, therefore, 



