56 THE ART OF 



him feel at the same time the help of the leg, 

 for the purpose of making the left shoulder 

 free, which will naturally carry forward the 

 leg of the fore part on this side. When the 

 horse will have obeyed, you will return the 

 hand, the nails a little upwards, till the left 

 rein is felt, in order to bring down the head 

 inwards. The changings of the hand from 

 left to right, and the taking the corners on a 

 gallop on the left foot, are executed in the 

 same manner, and by the same means, in an 

 inverse sense, as the changings of the hand 

 from right to left, and the taking of the cor- 

 ners on the gallop on the right foot. 



When by the aid of these exercises repeat- 

 ed, you will have acquired the suppleness and 

 freedom necessary for the part of the inferior 

 extremities, you will begin to put on spurs, 

 and to use stirrups. 



The height which the stirrups will be car- 

 ried, ought to be calculated by the manner in 

 which they will carry the natural weight of 

 the legs; when the stirrup straps are too 

 long, they force the rider to stretch his legs 

 beyond measure, to seek the stirrups, which 

 would make him lose the perpendicularity 

 which he should have on the saddle ; when 



