316 PIROUETTING. 



when quite perfect in their lesson, they refuse to do 

 what is required of them : but the greatest care is 

 taken that they are quite perfect : nor are they 

 ever punished while there is a chance that the not 

 performing correctly proceeds from their not under- 

 standing what is required of them. 



There is a common trick horses do in the ring, 

 namely, gallop round it without a bridle on, and, when 

 going at full speed, by a word or signal turn as if on 

 a pivot, and gallop the reverse way : this is, perhaps, 

 repeated a dozen times. If (which sometimes occurs) 

 the horse neglects to obey the first hint given him, 

 when a second is made, and he obeys that, he may be 

 observed as showing some alarm by his manner and 

 quickened pace. This evidently shows he knows he 

 has done wrong, for if he did not, of course he could 

 not be aware that he had, consequently would evince 

 no fear. 



The result of such neglect on the part of the horse 

 certainly would be his being had into the ring after 

 the performance was over, and then, if he was again 

 careless, he certainly would " catch it." 



To show that the teaching a horse thus to turn at 

 command is not the result of any severity or cruelty, 

 I will state one mode by which it may be effected. 

 Let a pad, like a common gig-saddle, or, what is used 

 instead of it, a surcingle with two rings to answer as 

 terrets, be put on the horse : a pair of long reins are 

 put through them as in harness, the strength and 

 severity of the bit are of course apportioned to the deli- 

 cacy or hardness of the horse's mouth. With both 

 reins thus held, so as each may cause the bit to bear 

 properly on each bar. of the mouth, the horse will 

 walk, trot, or gallop as ordered round the circle the 



