108 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



The action of the reins and legs, studied before, permit 

 the horse to be straightened. In referring to the table of 

 effects produced, in particular those of opposition, and 

 in utilizing the aid which the legs carry to the hand, the 

 rider will find all necessary means to straighten the shoul- 

 ders and put the haunches into line, to maintain and if 

 necessary to force the horse into his proper direction. 

 But to obtain the result which a proper application of the 

 aids should give, the energy of impulsion must be main- 

 tained. True, easy gaits depend entirely on the activity of 

 the haunches and the horse being straight. 



To change the gait and in a given gait to change speed. — 

 The change from one gait to another rests on two princi- 

 ples: First, when the legs close to carry the horse forward, 

 the hand should not oppose the movement; second, when 

 the hand acts to moderate or extinguish the impulsion the 

 legs should have no effect. 



In consequence, in passing from the halt to the walk, 

 extending the walk, passing from the walk to the trot, and 

 extending the trot, the rider should close his legs with 

 more or less force, according to the result sought and the 

 sensitiveness of the horse. At the same time he lowers his 

 hand and open his fingers, if necessary, for the movement. 

 The hands meanwhile should be ready to resist and even, 

 if necessary, to act, so as to regulate the gait when the 

 effect produced by the legs is superior to that wished for. 



To extend the walk, the rider, without ever losing 

 contact with the mouth, allows the horse great liberty in 

 extending his neck. In this position the horse is more 

 solid on his legs, sees his ground better, and is in a situa- 

 tion which favors movement without fatigue. To extend 

 the trot, one must push the horse forward and keep him 

 true by not letting one shoulder be more advanced than 

 the other. The rider may find it convenient to hold the 

 the reins separated in the two hands, so as to more easily 

 utilize the effects of opposition. 



The horse which pushed at the trot takes the gallop 

 without its being demanded is a horse behind the bit; it is 

 necessary to rein him in, close the legs to engender impul- 

 sion, let the neck stretch out, and lead him to take on the 

 bit a bearing which will favor speed. 



Inversely, to slow the gallop, the trot, and the walk, to 

 pass from the gallop to the trot, from the trot to the walk, 



