FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



once the equestrian passes the novice stage. The 

 cowboy trots his pony as persistently as the park 

 rider his hack, and the two opposite styles of 

 seats and saddles prove equally adaptable ; in fact, 

 the trot is the regular plains gait for long distances. 



The walk is the most neglected pace the horse 

 pursues, and few, indeed, are the animals that can 

 perform it fairly, squarely, flat-footed, fast, and 

 free. The hardest horse to beat in the show 

 ring is he who comes striding in one, two, three, 

 four, hind feet under girth, head nodding, quar- 

 ters, shoulders, knees, and stifles all at work ; 

 and, whatever his faults, he is the one his owner 

 parts with most reluctantly, and regrets perpetu- 

 ally. Occasional prizes have been given at our 

 shows for walking, but, because they have not 

 been especially exciting and attractive to the 

 crowd, they have been generally abandoned. By 

 all means possible, however, should proficiency 

 be encouraged, not only for the amount of pleas- 

 ure obtained, but through mercy for the horse, 

 for none is so perpetually overworked, so regu- 

 larly over-urged, as the slow, plodding, awkward 

 walker, rarely allowed to pursue the pace because 

 he does it so badly. 



The canter is rarely properly performed, and 

 146 



