TRAINING 121 



position taken by the horse himself to start the gallop. 

 In this way the horse becomes used to this pace 

 combined with the weight of the rider. With practice, 

 the starts become more and more easy, and the horse 

 enters on the gallop voluntarily, and with increasing 

 lightness. 



Such is the first part of the lesson in the gallop. 

 This method of starting is sufTicient for giving to the 

 young horse the necessary work ; it is, moreover, the 

 only one which can at this time be employed, since 

 the horse is ignorant of the action of the aids. 



B. But the rider does not always start the gallop 

 from a curved line ; he must be able to start with 

 changing direction, that is to say from straight lines. 

 The work which brings about this result constitutes 

 the second part of the training, in which the rider 

 must be able, at his wish, to place the horse in the 

 position which commands the gallop. The horse 

 must therefore be taught the elementary action of 

 the aids. 



To start with the off fore leg leading it is necessary 

 to restrain the near side legs, or to advance the off 

 side ones. Now, to obtain this result it is sufficient 

 either to restrain the action of the left shoulder, whilst 

 freeing at the same time the right shoulder, or to 

 place the left quarter slightly to the right, or to bring 

 the right quarter forward slightly in advance of the 

 left. 



All the actions of the reins or of the legs which 

 will bring about these results are right, although in 

 different degrees, and will prepare the horse, accord- 

 ing to the state of his training, to start on the desired 

 leg. 



1. To restrain the left shoulder, the rider must 



