80 RIDIITG A^B TRAII^ING SADDLE-HORSES. 



used to keep the horse up to the line, and to prevent the 

 croup going over too far. The result should be a regu- 

 larly cadenced action, in which the horse dwells at each 

 step, the effect of the increased pressure of the rider's 

 leg being to keep the legs of the horse suspended for the 

 moment. But the croup must not be driven over too 

 far, and the equilibrium must be observed. In traversing 

 at the passage the weight of the horse is, at each cadence, 

 sustained upon two legs diagonally opposed, while the 

 other two are carried beyond them in the direction of 

 the movement — the shoulders slightly in advance upon 

 one path, the croup in simultaneous actions following 

 another parallel path. At each step the horse leaves the 

 gi'ound, and is for the moment in the air. 



The traverse in the gallop may be obtained by similar 

 means. The horse being put into the gallop on the 

 .direct line, and leading with the legs of the side on 

 which the movement will be made. As the horse comes 

 upon the ground where the traversing is to begin, he 

 will be permitted to make one false step with the croup 

 as he takes the position for the traverse, to be corrected 

 at the second step in the movement. In the same way, 

 when he is put into the direct line, he will be permitted 

 to make one false step with the croup to preserve his 

 balance, to be brought into the true gallop at the second 

 step upon the new line. 



Chais'ges in the Gallop. — It is agreed on all sides 

 that the changes in the gallop are not only the most 

 striking and important of all the movements, but that in 

 them is also found the highest test of the skill of the 

 rider. But hardly any two authorities have agreed upon 



