2 ;6 SCHOOL BREAKING. 



should bring him up to it by closing both legs, and should 

 make him strike off into the passage by feeling the left rein 

 and by applying the drawn-back right foot. When the 

 movement has been executed for the required distance, we 

 should apply the drawn-back left leg, and should straighten 

 the horse. We may then try the right pass on the other 

 hand, and with the opposite aids. After the animal has 

 gained some proficiency, we should commence the passage, 

 if going to the left on the track, by turning the horse on 

 the forehand to the right through an angle of 45 ; if to the 

 right, the turn should be made to the left. It is necessary 

 that the horse be placed obliquely to the track ; for if he is 

 put at right angles to it, it will be impossible for him to 

 cross his outward legs in front of their inward fellows, and 

 at the same time move in a direction parallel to the track. 

 When passaging to the left, the right is the outward side, 

 and vice versa. In " making " the corners of the riding- 

 school, a quarter pirouette (turn on the hind-quirters) to 

 left or right (according as the passage is to the left or right) 

 should be executed, so as to bring the horse into the proper 

 position for his new direction. 



The passage may be done at the walk, trot, " passage" 

 or canter. When performed at the last-mentioned pace, 

 the outward and drawn-back leg should be applied only at 

 the moment when the non-leading (and outward) fore leg 

 comes down, which it does at the same instant as the 

 inward hind leg. For instance, when attempting the left 

 pass at the canter (with, naturally, the near fore leading), we 

 should apply the drawn-back right foot at the moment when 

 the off fore comes on the ground, so that the off hind, 

 which is in the air at that time, may be readily crossed in 

 front of the near hind. We should begin by placing the 

 horse at only a small angle to the track, and gradually 

 work him on until he can do the passage at an angle of 



