THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 81 



CHAPTER XI. 



The Cantering Lesson (continued) — The Half Passage and 



Change. 



Although the last-named exercises belong, strictly speaking, more 

 to tlie curriculum of the military riding school than to female 

 equitation, still, to be able to execute them with precision is of 

 great advantage to a lady, because they teach her that by getting 

 a good bend on her horse, and placing him in a certain position by 

 the application of the proper aids, she can compel him at her plea- 

 sure to canter with either near or ofF foot leading ; and, although it 

 may not be agreeable to her to keep her horse going with the near 

 leg, unless she is riding on the off side, nevertheless, the practice of 

 the half passage and change is an admirable, and indeed very 

 elegant, mode of acquiring ready facility in the effective use of 

 hand and leg. I have said before that the horse in the " half pas- 

 sage " places one foot before the other, instead of crossing his legs 

 completely, as in the full passage. The former mode of progression 

 enables the horse therefore to gain ground diagonally to his front, 

 instead of moving upon a line at right angles with the boards as in 

 the latter. 



The aids by which the haK passage is executed are the same as 

 those of the " full passage," with the following exceptions. First, 

 there is a lighter pressure of the leg on the outward side ; and in the 

 case of a lady it is necessary that she should use her whip on the off 

 side behind the saddle alternately with her leg on the near side, in 

 order to cause the horse to gain ground to the front, as well as to 

 place one foot before the other. 



After starting her horse at a walk, "going large," the rider 



G 



