THE HIGH SCHOOL 93 



The cadence can be marked by a'Jow click of the 

 tongue or the whisthng of a two-time air, while the hand 

 can assist by separating the reins and giving an upward 

 pull — by turning the nails up — on the opiDosite bridoon 

 rein, as each foot comes to the ground, and by slacken- 

 ing the rein again when the leg is fully extended, so that 

 the horse can spring forward. 



All High School paces are a matter of first placing 

 the horse, and then stimulating him into action, whilst 

 maintaining the position with the hands, and for this 

 pace a horse must be strong in all his joints, he should 

 not be lower at the withers than at the croup, as such 

 horses are difficult to balance on their hind legs, so as 

 to get the necessary elevation of the forehand and 

 energy of the hind quarters ; the horse should also have 

 sound feet and true action, and be of a generous dis- 

 position, as a rider cannot make a horse do anything ; 

 the horse has a will of his own and the rider can only 

 place and stimulate him. 



There is a tendency to use too much pressure when 

 the horse commences the Spanish trot : the action of 

 the legs should be very light at first and be gradually 

 increased as the horse understands its meaning and gets 

 warmed to the work, whether he is trained or learning ; 

 the legs first animate and collect the horse by bending 

 the knees, the hand by vibrations raises the head, and 

 then at the right moment the ankles commence their 

 light alternate action, the toes being at first turned in 

 and then dropped or gradually turned out according to 

 the sensitiveness of the horse (see Appendix III.) till, 

 after the ankles have increased their united pressure, 

 the spurs touch alternately owing to the action of the 

 horse. If the horse bends his quarters, say to the left, 

 instead of moving, as he ought to, quite straight, three 



