1 24 Ladys Trot versus Canter. 



ments of the gait. To canter properly, she must, 

 without resistance, pull, or fret, come down to a 

 canter quite as slow as a fast walk, even slower, 

 and not show the least attempt to fall into a jog ; 

 all this while so poised that she can bound into 

 a gallop at the next stride. Any plug can run. 

 Few of the saddle horses you meet on the road 

 seem to canter slowly, and yet it is one of the 

 most essential of gaits and a great relief from a 

 constant trot, especially for a lady. 



It may perhaps look more sportsmanlike — I 

 don't like to use the word " horsey " — for a lady 

 always to trot ; but no lady, apart from this, be- 

 gins to look as well upon the trot as when sitting 

 the properly timed park canter of a fresh and 

 handsome horse. Moreover, it requires vastly 

 less art to ride the trot usually seen with us than 

 to bring a high-couraged horse down to a slow 

 parade canter and keep him there, not to dilate 

 upon the gloriously invigorating and luxurious 

 feeling of this gait when executed in its perfec- 

 tion. 



Some lazy horses find that they can canter as 

 easily as walk and nearly as slowly, but this dis- 

 jointed, lax-muscled progress is a very different 

 performance from the proud, open action of the 

 generous horse, whose stride is so vigorous that 

 you feel as if he had wings, but who curbs his 

 ardor to your desires, and with the pressure of a 



