STRIKING OFF IN CANTER. 269 



utmost freedom is given to the near hind leg to be brought 

 forward, so as to commence the change of pace. I have 

 pointed out on page 267 that when a fore leg comes down 

 in the trot, the hind leg of that side is off the ground. 

 Accepting the remarks made on page 267 with reference to 

 the walk, we may apply the aids for making a horse strike 

 off into a canter from the walk, in the same manner as we 

 did for getting him to lead off from the trot. If the horse 

 tries to revert from the canter into the trot, we should keep 

 him up to the canter by applying the outward drawn-back 

 heel or spur. Having attained our object when going to 

 the right, we should seek it in the same way to the left. 



The utility of placing the horse obliquely to the direction 

 in which we wish him to canter, depends on the fact that 

 when a horse canters (or gallops), the leading shoulder is 

 somewhat in advance of the non-leading one. Hence, it is 

 easier for him, when placed obliquely to the track, to lead 

 off with the more advanced fore leg, than with the other 

 fore leg. 



To teach the horse to strike off into the canter from the 

 halt, say, with the off fore leading, we may place him in a 

 corner of the school obliquely to one of the long sides and 

 on the right rein ; we should, by touching him with the 

 drawn-back left heel, make him advance the off hind more 

 under him than the near one ; and having thus prepared 

 him, should make him strike off in the way described in the 

 two preceding paragraphs. When he has learned to do this, 

 we should give him similar instruction on the left rein. 

 When we have thus got him to strike off correctly with either 

 fore leg, we should gradually bring him to do so, when 

 placed in a straight line and away from the walls of the 

 manege. This air requires a horse to be thoroughly 

 obedient to the aids, and demands a preparation as well as 

 a stimulus. 



