32 THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 



This lesson, as well as every other, should be repeated 

 until the horse understands, and will answer, the rider's 

 hand and leg, without the assistance of the whip or spur. 



In turning, the hands must not be carried to the right 

 nor to the left ; they are not to quit the position previously 

 laid down. In all turns, the action is to be made from the 

 wrist, the little fingers turning in and up, towards the face, 

 resuming their place when the horse has answered the aid. 



Lesson IT. 



When the horse has become somewhat perfect in answer- 

 ing the aids of the hand and leg, the rider should press 

 him to the trot. 



In applying the aids for the trot, he must raise the horse's 

 forehand, by a light feeling of both reins, turning the little 

 fingers in and up, towards his face, not with a jerking, un- 

 steady action, but with that light feeling which I have before 

 described ; both legs must be smoothly applied to press him 

 up to the hand, and bring his haunches under him, so that 

 when he lifts his foot from the ground, he may have greater 

 power, and more freedom, to put it out to the front. The 

 forehand being relieved by bringing the weight more on to 

 the haunches, enables him to spring and step better up to 

 the light hand, which the rider must be very careful to ac- 

 quire, and this is only obtained by care and great attention 

 on his own part. The meaning of a light hand, is, that 

 it exercises an alternate feeling and easing of the horse's 

 mouth, by proper attention to which its sensibility is pre- 

 served, and the rider's hand formed. 



The first lessons in the trot, should be short, and fre- 

 quently varied with those already gone through. The rider 

 must be very particular in changing the horse's lessons, or 

 he will soon anticipate what is to follow, which must never 

 be allowed. He is never to turn, advance, stop, or rein 

 back, without receiving the proper aids from his rider ; nor 



