214 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



her horse, will make no observable effort, and 

 there will be perfect harmony between her 

 steed and herself. When the English trot is 

 ridden in this manner, the person who can con- 

 demn it must, indeed, be extremely fastidious. 

 However, it must be acknowledged that it will 

 require the lithe, charming figure of a young 

 lady to exhibit its best points, and to execute 

 it in its most pleasing and graceful style. The 

 very tall, the inactive, or the stout lady may 

 ride this gait with ease to herself and horse, 

 and when properly taught will not render her- 

 self awkward or ridiculous, but she can never 

 ride it with the willowy grace of the slender 

 woman of medium size. 



Trotting in a circle may be practiced in a 

 riding-school, or upon a level, open space or 

 ground, having a circular track about seventy- 

 five or eighty feet in diameter. It is very ex- 

 cellent practice, especially in teaching the rider 

 to rise in unison with the horse's trot, whether 

 he leads with the right or left leg. For first 

 lessons, the pupil must commence by circling to 

 the right, as this is the easiest to learn, and will 

 teach her to bear toward the right side of the 

 horse. It is very essential that in first lessons 

 she should do this ; because in the English trot 

 she will have to guard carefully against inclin- 



