THE HIGH SCHOOL 91 



the left hand holding the reins long, draws them 

 behind the ^vithc^s in the direction of the off hind leg 

 and puts weight on to it, without affecting the off 

 fore leg. 



It is not ad\'isable to teach hunters the Spanish 

 walk, as when held back to wait their turn at a fence, 

 they are apt to strike out ^\'ith their fore legs ; strong 

 leg pressure is also required during their training, and 

 High School horses become very sensitive and they must 

 be ridden very carefully. 



"\Mien the horse is. thoroughly proficient in the 

 Spanish walk, pelds his jaw and neck readily to the 

 hand, and can start the canter from the halt on to 

 either leg. we can teach him the Spanish Trot. The 

 pace entails energetic alternate action of the hind legs, 

 and preparatory work on foot is most desirable, as 

 unless the hind legs have been trained to answer to the 

 spurs, the horse merely increases the action of the 

 fore legs when stimulated by them. 



The horse is tied up by pillar reins between two 

 strong posts and his quarters tapped with a long whip 

 until, not being able to move forwards, he springs up 

 and down from one hind leg on to the other. Allien 

 mounted, the whip apphed behind the rider's body 

 on the quarters Avill at first demand the increased 

 action, and be gradually replaced by the spurs and legs, 

 appUed vdth. the knees sufficiently bent to enable the 

 legs to stimulate the action of the horse's hind legs. 

 This is the usual method, but personally I prefer to place 

 the horse against a wall of his box or of the school, to 

 hold him by the head, and touch him with the end of a 

 riding cane or ^vith a spur-stick behind the girths till he 

 raises the hind leg and puts it do^^ii quietly : when this 

 has been done on both sides, the trainer can mount and 



