TROT AND CANTER 139 



from her, not the least of which is the course of cross- 

 country riding which all foreign officers are now required 

 to take ; or rather a course of as near its requirements as 

 non-lmnting countries can conjure up. Jumping has al- 

 ways been part of the drill of the *Prussian cavalryman ; 

 but since the growth of English ideas this exercise has 

 been broadened and made more of. It is, however, not 

 mere jumping of a thirty -incli obstacle but steady drill 

 which really helps shake a man into his saddle in the form 

 needed for cavalry evolutions. 



The canter of the Mexican is the old park canter, with 

 a superabundant use of the curb to make the horse prance 

 and play and show his action. The horse is as fond and 

 proud of this as the rider. The best saddle-horse is, of 

 course, the one which will absolutely follow his master's 

 mood ; upon whose neck the reins can be flung if one 

 wishes to saunter along the road, or if one wishes to dis- 

 mount and rest sub tegmine fagl • and who, at call, can 

 show his paces to the best advantage. Most horses are 

 treated solely as a means of transportation, even in hunt- 

 ing and polo ; few receive the training ever^^ intelligent 

 horse is as much entitled to as the American child to his 

 common schooling. And in a sense the Mexican has edu- 

 cated his horse to better advantage. Because his horse is 

 prancing it is no reason why we should look down upon 

 him. He is doing nothing more than the men who used 

 to go titupping down Rotten Row every line afternoon of 

 fifty years ago ; and he may be a better rider than he 

 looks. The steady, business-like gaits of the English nag 

 of to-day are in perfect keeping with his rider's business 

 suit ; but you notice that the Mexican wears a differ- 

 ent habit. Why, then, should not his riding be in keep- 

 ing with his dress? 



This trot and canter controversy is not yet settled. The 



