118 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



execution of the movement demanded, and he should 

 make frequent use of it. 



Furthermore, at this pace, the seat being firm, 

 the rider is in possession of all his means of action, 

 and should make use of it to rectify all the bad positions 

 of his horse, and to teach him the positions which pre- 

 cede the carrying out of every new movement. The 

 horse, being all the more disposed to obey as the action 

 of the aids is more decided, and all the more master 

 of his balance as the pace is less rapid, finds himself 

 thoroughly prepared to receive the lesson. Every new 

 movement, and every new position, should therefore 

 be learnt at the \valk before it is attempted at the 

 fast paces. 



But at the walk, precisely because of the slowness 

 of the pace, the effects of the exercises on the joints 

 and muscles, especially in the movements to one side, 

 are but shghtly marked. In the same way, if, at the 

 canter and gallop, the increase and decrease of speed 

 is an excellent exercise for the spine, the movements 

 to the side on two lines, on the other hand, have no 

 useful effect on the horse, because in this movement 

 he moves in a series of parallel bounds, without any 

 of the legs crossing one another, and consequently 

 without great effort. 



In the trot, on the contrary, in consequence of the 

 mechanism of the pace, the movement on two Hues is 

 a gymnastic exercise all the more efficacious in pro- 

 portion as the impulsion is greater, and the action more 

 extended. In order that the near side legs, for example, 

 may stretch freely to the left, and that the off side legs 

 may pass in front and cross over them, the horse must 

 move in big strides, and consequentl}^ maintain his 

 speed, otherwise there will not be any vigorous working 



