THE HIGH SCHOOL 97 



concession on his part, this^^xhilarates him and impresses 

 the lesson on his memory. 



To develop the extension of the legs, the horse can 

 be ridden on a circle to each hand and eventually in the 

 figure of eight, the action of the hand being sharp at the 

 moment the horse wants his energy stimulated, i.e. 

 when he thinks he has raised his leg high enough. 



With regard to the aids of the legs, it is best to train 

 the horse by the touch of the ankles and spurs against 

 the girths in the Spanish walk, and more or less behind 

 them in the Spanish trot and Passage. 



The exact spots at which the legs and spurs produce 

 the desired effect on the forehand or hind quarters must, 

 however, . be found out in every horse ; but roughly 

 speaking, the spurs applied against the girths affect the 

 forehand ; when touching the sides on a line dropped 

 from just in front of the cantle of the saddle, they act on 

 the hind quarters ; at a spot between these two points 

 they keep a horse balanced and maintain a movement. 

 But providing an effect is obtained and the knees are 

 not turned out, the nearer the girths the spurs are 

 applied the better. The width of four fingers behind 

 them is the proper spot according to M. de la Gueriniere. 

 To develop diagonal action one spur can touch the flank, 

 and the other close behind the elbow, but, when the 

 horse has taken up the desired movement, both legs 

 should be placed against or near the girths so that the 

 spurs may not excite the swishing of the tail, which 

 should be as steady as the neck. Mr. Fillis rightly 

 remarks that horses are not tickhsh near the girths, but 

 all of them are ticklish further back. 



In High School work the legs are so much used that 

 it is advisable to weav trousers and boots with spurs in 

 the heels, or at any rate low-countered boots on which 



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