50 THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 



rein, to keep him stepping up to the hands. If the rider 

 finds the horse is not going up, and yielding to the inward 

 rein, he must press him up to it by closing the inward leg 

 more strongly. 



When he has acquired a firm even pace at a walk in the 

 circle, he should be urged to a gentle trot, and afterwards 

 to a short collected canter. When working on a circle, 

 the hind feet should follow the track of the fore feet, for if 

 he should throw his haunches too much inwards, he will 

 strain his hind quarters ; or if he should throw them out- 

 wards, he will lay too much stress on his shoulders. These 

 are errors to which a young horse is very liable, and 

 should be guarded against. 



If a horse shows unusual dislike or awkwardness in the 

 circle, and no natural impediment be the cause, he should 

 be put back to the exercise of his previous lessons of the 

 shoulder-in and passage, which will, in a short time, bring 

 him to that of the circle, without difficulty. 



The practice of the various aids required in the pre- 

 ceding lessons, will have prepared the young horseman, 

 as well as the young horse, for those of the circle. These 

 exercises are essential to every horseman, and will enable 

 him to gain advantage over an obstinate and awkward 

 horse, in proportion to his skill in their application. It is 

 not sufficient that the rules by which the horse is to be 

 governed, should be merely known ; they must be prac- 

 tised until they become habitual. To this end, much exer- 

 cise, long perseverance, and great attention, are requisite 

 on the part of the student ; but when these qualifications 

 are once attained, almost any difficulties may be overcome. 



The exercise of the circle confirms the equilibrium and 

 unity of the rider and horse. In moving round a circle, 

 in order to preserve the poise of his body, the horse must 

 necessarily lean inwards, in proportion to the size of the 

 circle, and the speed at which he is made to go, the rider 

 must conform to, and partake of, that inclination, or the 



