66 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



executant of it. There must be energy, patience, and close attention 

 on the part of the pupil ; vigilance, patience, temper, and thorough 

 knowledge of his craft on the part of the instructor. Master and 

 pupil thus in accord, the latter will derive great advantage and 

 insight into the elegant accomplishment she is endeavouring to 

 acquire, while anything like carelessness on either side will be fatal 

 to the utility of the lesson. It should be thoroughly well done or 

 not at all. 



After the careful execution of the above lesson, the pupil should 

 prepare her horse for cantering by reigning him back lightly on his 

 haunches ; touching him if necessary smartly with her whip, in 

 order to put him well up to his work. A step or two back (well up 

 to the bridle) is sufficient, when she should move forward, and the 

 instructor should give her the aids for cantering ; which (once 

 more to quote the simple language of the "Aid Book ") are as 

 follows: "A hght firm feeling of both reins to raise the horse's 

 forehand, a pressure of both legs to keep his haunches under 

 him, a double feeling of the inward rein, and a stronger pressure 

 of the outvrard leg, will compel the horse to strike off true and 

 united." 



The above of course is intended as instruction to a man ; but sub- 

 stituting a liglit tap of the whip on the oif shoulder for the pressure 

 of the inward leg of the man, and very light for strong aids, the 

 instruction holds good in the case of the lady. 



Now, I have observed before that a horse to be thoroughly broken 

 to carry a woman should be taught to answer to very light aids, and 

 require, in fact, very little leg in order to understand and answer to 

 the indications of his rider's will. If this has been properly carried 

 out the lady will have no difficulty in striking her horse off to the 

 right, true and united^ which means in cantering to the right (as 

 nearly every hack and lady's horse does) with the off fore, followed 

 by the off hind leg. 



A charger or "high ?«a??e9e " horse — which must use either leg 

 with equal facility, and go to the left as well as the right — in 

 cantering to the former hand will go wich the near fore, folloAved 

 by the near hind, and be still " true and united " in his pace. 



