THE WALK. 187 



tense enougrli to enable the rider to feel the 

 beat of the horse's action as he places each foot 

 upon the ground, and to give him a slight sup- 

 port and keep up an even action. Should this 

 support be tooheavy, his step will be shortened, 

 and he will be unable to move freely ; should 

 it be insufficient, he will carry his head low, will 

 not raise his feet high enough to escape stum- 

 bling, will knock his toes against every inequal- 

 ity of the ground, and both he and his rider 

 will present an indolent and listless aspect. Her 

 attitude should be easy and erect, but she should 

 yield herself slightly to the movements of the 

 horse although without showing any lack of 

 steadiness. (Fig. 29.) 



Should the horse be too much animated by 

 the reins and whip at the commencement of 

 the walk, he may enter upon a jog trot, or an 

 amble, in which case he must be checked by 

 gradually reining him in until he has settled 

 into a walk. Should he, on the contrary, not 

 be sufficiently animated, he will not exert him- 

 self and will move in an irregular and indolent 

 manner ; in this case, he must be made to raise 

 his head by a slight pull upon the curb-reins, 

 as already explained, and be again collected and 

 animated by the aid of the leg and whip. 



A short, abrupt turn in the walk should 



12 



