HORSEMANSHIP AND TRAINING. 



31 



controlling influence, as much so in proportion as the 

 balance seat should support the rider in the saddle in- 

 stead of the reins, and it is in this that the horseman 



has the advantage. 



STEPS AND MOTIONS. 



Every horse has a peculiar step and motion, either easy 

 or rough. Under the saddle they are felt more than in 

 any other service. As the horse is built so are his steps 



Fig. 7. — SNAFFLE BIT. 



and motions, and like those of men, they cannot be ma- 

 terially changed, for the peculiar shape and construction 

 of the frame naturally creates them ; while the riding 

 and the bit used may tend to make them better or worse 

 in the horse. The fox-trot is the gait of a spoiled horse. 

 This gait is created by bad riding, or by using the bit and 

 bridoon at the same time. With this gait it is ^Hieads 

 or tails" which gets tired first — the horse or the rider. 



The flat-footed man, instead of walking from his toe, 

 walks from the inner side of his foot ; his step is short, 

 and having no holloAv in his foot, he cannot bend it and 

 he consequently picks up his foot before his step is quite 

 finished. Horses, in the same way, from either some 

 malformation or the use of the wrong bit, badly chosen 

 and worse held, have very objectionable gaits and mo- 



