THE HIGH SCHOOL 87 



move in a pace ^vhich has the same relation to the 

 Spanish walk as the Passage has to the Spanish trot. 

 The movement is graceful, free from effort and conse- 

 quently not tiring. 



An exceedingly light touch of the thighs, legs, and 

 ankles, and a vibratory or stroking action of the spurs, 

 as well as occasionally strong ankle pressure, is necessary 

 when riding horses in the High School, and it needs 

 much practice to gain proficiency : as General I'Hotte 

 says, " The aids should be applied secretly, so that no 

 one can notice any movement on the part of the rider." 

 The legs should vary their effect only by different 

 degrees of pressure. 



The rider should be able to remain perfectly still, 

 and to keep his muscles uncontr acted and the spur 

 rowel just resting on the hair like a fly,* until the horse 

 carries out his wish, when it should be instantly 

 removed. The spur when used in this way is a 

 suggestive stimulant to thought, not a punishment. 

 As John Locke Avrites, in his essay concerning human 

 understanding, " Knowledge reaches the understanding 

 through external and internal sensations ; the mind 

 determines the will, and uneasiness is the great motive 

 that works on the mind and puts it into action.'* The 

 aim of true horsemanship is to change irritability into 

 sensibility, and to teach that the way to overcome 

 irritation is to yield and not to resist, and that balance 

 and relaxation of mind and body is the cure and 

 prevention of most evils. When it is necessary to 

 punish with the spurs, the toes should be raised and 

 turned out, and the rowels pressed in with a quick 

 decided movement, and be withdrawn at once. 



* The delicate touch or tickling of the spur of M. de la 

 Gueriniere. 



