THE CANTER. 



225 



the horse lead off with the near fore. As the animal 

 improves in his acquaintance with these signals, we may 

 diminish the amount of the preliminary outward turn, so 

 that we may obtain the desired lead without altering the 

 direction of his body. We may then gradually increase the 



Fig. 109. Cantering with near fore leading. 



size of the circle until we can make the horse lead off with 

 whichever leg we like while he is walking or trotting in a 

 straight line. 



When he has learned the foregoing lesson thoroughly, we 

 may take him back to the old circle, and ride him at a walk 

 and then at a trot in a figure 8, so that he will describe 

 two small circles inside the old circle. We should be 

 careful to change the aids on entering the new circle, 



15 



