36 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



collection of the forces. In trottinof, the reins 

 should be held of equal lengths, unless there is 

 some rigidity or resistance to be overcome, or a 

 change of direction is to be made. If a horse be 

 not schooled sufficiently to make it easy for the 

 rider to demand the state of collection which we 

 call ' in hand,' there Is no better way of teaching 

 this than by riding in a slow trot and by demanding 

 from the hind-quarters increased impulses which 

 are to be gently met by the hand. This should be 

 persevered in until a regular, even, and balanced 

 pace is produced, the hand finding nothing more 

 than an elastic touch upon the mouth just sufficient 

 to convey the indications of the reins, and there 

 being no suggestion of the horse hanging back or 

 reducing its action. If the horse bores upon the 

 hand, the hind-legs must be carried more under the 

 mass, and the forehand must be elevated ; if the 

 horse carries its head too high, and moves uneasily, 

 the tension upon the reins should be reduced and 

 the hand lowered. 



It is also in the slow trot that the closer form 

 of collection, which we call 'the union,' can be 

 produced. The horse being ' in hand,' the rider 

 should demand greater exertions from the hind- 

 quarters, and carry back in a corresponding degree 

 the forces of the forehand, so that the action of the 



