192 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 



than a trotting-horse Avith an amble. You may not see 

 the diflference ; but there is one, just the same, as there is 

 'twixt tweedledum and tweedledee. If, for saddle, you 

 have to choose between a good singlefoot and a good trot, 

 by all means take the singlefoot, unless you prefer fashion 

 to comfort. Still, the trot is one of the finest of saddle 

 gaits in its place ; it is out of place only when you 

 use it to the exclusion of everything else ; it then becomes 

 a species of treadmill. 



5. To say that a saddle-horse must guide by the neck 

 is as absurd as to say that a well-educated man must 

 know some grammar. Still, in these two - handed days, 

 when a man cannot blow his nose, let alone assist his 

 equestrienne, without losing partial control of his horse, 

 the statement must be ventured. The saddle-horse's 

 neck must be suppled so that, so soon as you take up the 

 rein, he will give his head to your hand and keep it there. 

 He must be able to execute the pirouette, i.e. move in a 

 circle in either direction about one hind-foot, which shall 

 not leave the ground. His hind-quarters must be sup- 

 pled so that the use of the spur, or the closing of the legs 

 shall bring his hind-feet under him, to collect his forces ; 

 in other words, he must readily come in hand. As a se- 

 quence to this he must execute the reversed pirouette 

 round one of his fore-feet. He must traverse — move side- 

 wise— at least a dozen steps, without effort. 



6. He must pass from an}^ one of his gaits to any 

 other at the slightest indication, and without flurry. He 

 must start into the canter with either shoulder leading, or 

 change lead at will when in motion. 



7. He must be able to jump handily and in cold blood 

 any reasonable obstacle, say a fence or wall up to three 

 feet and a half. If he will face four feet at call, he is an 

 able jumper. 



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