64 NOTES ON EQUITATION 



be practically utilized. If the rider discovers that his horse 

 trots unevenly and advances one shoulder more than the 

 other, he should rise on the shoulder that gains less ground. 



These results may also be utilized to correct the fault 

 of a horse always leading with the same foot at a gallop. 

 Suppose for instance, a horse that always gallops on the 

 right foot: to lead with the right foot the horse sets the 

 right shoulder in advance of the left. If therefore the rider 

 persists, for a certain length of time, in rising from the left 

 diagonal pair, the left shoulder, as has been explained above, 

 will be pushed further forward than the right and the horse 

 will be in a position at a trot that will induce him to lead 

 with the left foot at a gallop. 



From the preceding explanations it is evident that the 

 rider should know how to trot his horse on either shoulder 

 and to change shoulders without changing gait if he wishes 

 to develop the animal's efficiencj^ equally and have him 

 always perfectly straight. 



The only exception is when the legs of one diagonal 

 pair have been injured and they can be saved by rising from 

 the other. 



Lengthening and Shortening the Gait at a Wall( and Trot. 

 Lengthening and shortening of gaits must be executed grad- 

 ually and by the steady use of the aids. The lowering of 

 the head and the extending of the neck assist in producing 

 a lengthened gait. The raising of the head and curving of 

 the crest favor a shortening of the gait. 



In all changes of gait the rider must accomodate his 

 .<eat to the movements of the horse. The lengthening of 

 the trot should be moderate and of short duration. By de- 

 manding more than a horse is equal to, an irregular gait 

 will soon be developed and this will be difficult to correct 

 later. 



