THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



73 



of the ground, but plants his near fore foot close to the boards and 

 makes the corner equally square, because whenever a horse is allowed 

 to " cut the corners off" he endeavours to get behind the bridle, and 

 generally succeeds. The pupil, therefore, should be cautioned in 

 time by the instructor, and if she fails to make good every inch of 

 ground, the word " halt" should be given and the horse reined back. 

 Arrived about midway down the school, the turns to the right should 

 be made square from the boards, the horse's haunches kept under 

 him so that he does not hit the side of the school with his hind feet. 

 His doing which is at once a proof that he is out of hand. Arrived 

 at the centre of the school, the words ''right turn" should be given 

 again, instead of allowing the pupil to ride right across the school to 

 the boards on the opposite side. She should then ride a couple of 

 lengths down the centre, and again turn her horse, by word from the 

 master, square to the right, and once more to the left, when arrived 

 at the boards. This, repeated two or three times, is a good prepara- 

 tion for executing the circle ; in order to facilitate the correct riding 

 of which, the master should cause his pupil to halt her horse at the 

 side, and himself walk over the ground he desires her to ride over. 

 If he does this correctly, the pupil will find little difficulty in riding 

 the circle with precision. 



Starting from a point close to the boards, a couple of horses' 

 lengths in front of the pupil, the master should make an incline to 

 the right, at an angle of about forty-five, until he is half-way 

 between the boards and the centre of the school ; he should then 

 bring up his left shoulder, and make another incline at the same 

 angle to the centre of the school. Down the centre he should walk 

 straight, the distance of a horse's length ; again bring up his left 

 shoulder, and make two inclines to the side. The figure he will thus 

 describe does not quite represent a circle as he walks ; but when the 

 horse is called upon to move his fore and hind legs on the same track, 

 it will be a circle in his case as nearly as possible. Having caused 

 the pupil to move her horse forward, the instructor should give her 

 the aids for circling, which are a double feeling of the inward rein, 

 the horse well supported with the outward, and well kept up to the 

 hand by the leg. 



