io6 Ctirdy S7iaffle, and Spur, 



ping the hand for a moment when the horse is in 

 hand, or more closely united, and resuming the 

 tension upon the reins before the animal loses its 

 lightness or has increased its speed, the rider's 

 heels acting before the tension upon the reins is 

 resumed, to insure the impulses. This momen- 

 tary dropping of the hand will be exchanged by 

 gradual steps for longer periods of unsupport, 

 until the horse, once in hand or more closely 

 united, will hold its state of collection and main- 

 tain the same speed for an appreciable time. 

 The lessons should first be given in the shortened 

 trot, and when the horse is thoroughly disciplined 

 at that pace, it may be taught in the same man- 

 ner to move without support in the gallop. I 

 have schooled horses, without any great labor, to 

 make the gallop changes with the reins loose 

 upon the neck, by bringing the horse to observe 

 the half-halt without support when the body of 

 the rider was bent backwards, and by gently giv- 

 ing the indications for the change with the spur 

 at the moment the half-halt was made. 



