CHANGING LEG. 271 



possible delay, so as to make the required change. It may 

 be objected that it is impossible to tell, when in the saddle, 

 the exact periods of the canter ; that school riders, long 

 before the horse's movements at the canter had been 

 investigated, were able from practice to give the signal for 

 the change ; and that, in attempting to do so, we must be 

 guided solely by the inspiration of the moment. Although 

 the necessary skill can be obtained only by practice, one 

 certainly is greatly helped in one's endeavour by knowing 

 the principles upon which one should work. 



FIGURE EIGHT AT THE CANTER. 



We should teach the horse the figure 8 at the canter in 

 the manner described on page 225, except that we should 

 make the horse change his leg immediately on entering the 

 new circle. 



CANTERING FALSELY. 



Purposely making a horse canter falsely is the best 

 possible practice for teaching him to obey the aids and for 

 preventing him from becoming routin: ; for it forces him 

 to subordinate his natural inclinations to the aids. I 

 may point out that up to this we have made the aids con- 

 formable to the movements of the animal. When he canters 

 in this manner, say, with the near fore leading when on the 

 right circle, he should have his head turned to the left, and 

 the rider should place more weight on the left stirrup than 

 on the right one. Having taught him to canter falsely 

 on both circles, we may make him do so on the figure 8> 

 in which the changes of the leading leg will also be false. 



TURN ON THE FOREHAND. 



After having obtained this movement in the manner 

 described on page 212, we should try to do the complete 

 circle on both turns, with the respective pivot foot being 



