TRAINING 103 



the wrong leg, by cantering on a broken line, and 

 making the turns progressively sharper without a 

 change of leg. He then attempts the figure of eight and 

 the serpentine. He commences work on a figure of eight 

 by a large eight between the two ends of the riding 

 school, executed once only (two changes of hand). 

 As soon as the horse can do this calmly, the rider 

 should keep him on the figure for a longer time, and 

 w^hen he canters calm and free, the size of the figure 

 should be gradually reduced. He should, how'cvcr, 

 w^ork the horse frequently on the large figure, in pre- 

 ference to the smaller ones, especially in the case of 

 underbred horses. 



In the same way the serpentine will at first only 

 have one bend, and the number of bends will be 

 gradually increased as the horse gains experience. 



This work makes the horse modify his balance of 

 his own accord, and gives the alternate extension 

 and engagement, which is the object of this 

 exercise. 



To avoid the needless difficulty of starting the turn 

 leading with the wrong leg, the rider should start with 

 the proper leg leading, and then change. During the 

 turn on the wrong leg, the inside rein, by a careful 

 opposition, keeps back the inside shoulder and quarter 

 to prevent the change of leg. This opposition 

 diminishes as the horse makes the turn on the wrong 

 leg more readily. 



(f) Rein-back. — Although backing is especially 

 a punishment for the horse, which, notwithstanding 

 the halts and half-halts, tries to force the hand, or to 

 lean unduly on the bit, it is equally an exercise which 

 helps to supple the spine, and makes the horse balance 

 himself on his hind legs. 



