TO CHANGE LEGS. 121 



the off hind leg, which should be his pivot ; and start 

 him off as before described. To turn to the left about, 

 the reversed aids are applied. 



Turning to the right about at one end of a riding 

 school, and to the left about at the other end, while 

 keeping as close as possible to one of the long sides 

 of the school, makes an elongated figure of 8. By 

 turning the pony towards the side of the school, 

 it will be found that he can be made to go right and 

 left about with very little trouble, as he will not 

 like to run his head against the boards. When 

 he makes these turns well, he should be taught to do 

 them, by simply pressing the rein on the neck, with- 

 out applying the outward leg ; and the reins can 

 be held in one hand. In doing this figure of 8, great 

 attention should be paid to make the pony come round 

 with the inward hind as well as the inward fore leg- 

 leading. He should change his legs at the moment of 

 the turn about, and he can be made to do this by a 

 sharp kick of the drawn-back outward heel. 



TO CHANGE LEGS BEFORE AND BEHIND AT THE CANTER 



OR GALLOP. 



This can be taught in the same way as the last 

 exercise ; in fact, the aids are the same as those for 

 turning. The canter and gallop differ from the other 

 paces, by the fact that the leading fore leg, during 

 each stride, is extended much more to the front than 

 the non-leading one ; and consequently it is impossible 

 for a pony to cross his leading fore with the non- 

 leading one. Also, it stands to reason that one or both 

 inward legs should be the pivot on which he should 



