54 ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



be obtained before easing the hands after stopping the 

 horse. 



If the horse lowers his neck it should be at once 

 pressed up again by the legs and spurs applied near the 

 girths ; it should not, however, be carried too high : 

 the slope of the shoulders and the width of the jaws 

 must be taken into consideration so that the horse may 

 not be uncomfortable when his face is perpendicular 

 to the ground. 



The rider must not expect to develop in himself the 

 necessary delicacy of touch, or in the horse the ready 

 obedience and suppleness of the trained animal without 

 long, continued, patient work ; he must at first be satis- 

 fied Avith the slightest success, and then dwell on the 

 cause of it till it is firmly fixed in his mind. 



(b) The rider then starts the trot, taking the saddle 

 first as the near fore foot and off hind foot come to the 

 ground, and having obtained a flexion with the right 

 rein — diagonal aids — and a direct flexion with both 

 reins, he should pat the horse and repeat the lesson, 

 trotting on the off fore and near hind, with the left 

 rein and both reins together. If a horse shows objection 

 to be turned to one particular side, say, to the left, he 

 should be trotted much on the off fore leg, so that the 

 rider's left hand can supple his jaw and neck on that 

 side. 



(c) In the canter, the right and direct flexions are 

 obtained when cantering on the right leg ; and the left 

 and direct flexions when leading with the left leg. 



In all these flexions the right leg and spur touching 

 the side near the girth helps the action of the right hand 

 and vice versa. 



Fiflis remarks that Baucher's direct and lateral 

 flexions were made at the withers instead of at the nape 



