ON THE VALUE OF BOOKS ON RIDING. 1 5 



hind-legs when they are free from the ground (at 

 the moment the weight has been taken by the right 

 fore-leg), and it will change the fore-legs when they 

 are free from the ground (as the horse goes into 

 air for the next stride). The horse will then have 

 made the change of lead, and be true in the gallop 

 with the left legs leading. 



The change from the left side to the right will 

 be made in exactly the same manner by the corre- 

 sponding aids ; that is, the left spur and the right 

 rein will be applied as the fore-hand comes down 

 in any stride. 



I believe that I am the first writer on horseman- 

 ship who has undertaken to describe and explain 

 this method of changing the lead in the gallop, so 

 that I have not had the example of any prede- 

 cessor in making myself clear ; and if the reader 

 can understand the movement, he should be able 

 to grasp the meaning of any accepted method. 



The pupil must not expect to be able to make 

 the horse perform the movement I have described at 

 the first trial, or before many trials. That is not the 

 question. Does he understand the principle ? and, 

 after sufficient practice, could he put it into effect? 

 If these are answered in the affirmative, then books 

 on riding may be of value. It must take a long time 

 before a beginner could use spur and rein with suffi- 



