228 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



to that of the horse, by throwmg her right hip 

 and shoLikler somewhat forward, her face look- 

 ing to^vard the animal's liead, while her body 

 is held erect with the shoulders gracefully in- 

 clined backward, and the hollow^ of the back 

 well curved inward. Any stiffness or rigidity 

 of the body must be guarded against in these 

 movements and positions. The rider must liold 

 herself in a pliant manner, and yield to the mo- 

 tions of the horse. The left leg must be held 

 steady, the knee being placed directly under- 

 neath the third ponnnel, and care must be taken 

 not to press upon the stirrup, as this will tend 

 to raise the body from the saddle, and convey 

 its weight almost wholly to the left side. 



The hands must be held somewhat elevated 

 and steady, and, as the horse advances, the ten- 

 sion on the reins must be even, so that the fin- 

 gers can feel every cadence of his step, and give 

 and take with his movements. Unlike the trot, 

 in which the horse must be supported by the 

 snaffle, the canter will require the curb to sus- 

 tain and keep up his action. After the animal 

 has started in the canter with the right bg 

 leading, should he incline too much to the left, 

 the tension upon the right rein must be in- 

 creased, so as to turn his head more to the 

 right and bring him to the proper inclination 



