XVIII. 



Work at the Slow Trot, hi one of tlic lirsl answer- •. • 

 mentioned the utility of the trot and explained the advan- 

 tages in training resulting from the use of this gait. We 

 can only repeat here what we have said })ef(ne: tlie slow 

 trot especially gives excellent results in tlie last stages oj 

 training. Suppling exercises for the haunches, slioulders and 

 jaw, when executed at this gait produce rapid progress in 

 the horse; they increase his strength and suppleness }»y 

 forcing him to acquire and preserve his balance. 



Small Circles. Small circles lower the horse's en )up; tin 

 inside hock is necessarily brought under and the outside 

 shoulder is developed because it has a greater distance to 

 travel. Moreover, this work on a restricted circle enables 

 the rider to set a horse that experiences difficulty in liendin^' 

 the body and it aids in breaking up the contraction of the 

 horse that pulls too hard on the hand. 



Small circles should be rarely used with horses that 

 hang back for it is to be noted that on the circle they an 

 especially prone to get behind the bit. Nor should turns l»< 

 used too much with young horses with blemished or worn 

 out hocks. As for the aids to be used, it depends upon 

 whether the horse has a tendency to let the haunches swing 

 out or the reverse— to let them drag inside. In the rtrst case 

 the inside rein and the outside leg should predominate; in 

 the second case the important aids will be the inside rein 

 and leg. 



Serpentines. Serpentines produce about the same results 

 as small circles but in addition they accustom the horse t«> 

 pass from one set (position) to the other, easily and irj,il> 

 advancing. 



Two Track Work. Two track work at a slow tn)t on ili. 

 diagonal of the hall is another method of suppling the hind 



(65) 



