112 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



To put the horse into a trot from the walk, the 

 horse should first be a little more closely united ; 

 the legs will then demand increased impulses, and 

 the hand will give sufficient liberty for the animal 

 to advance at the desired rate of speed, the legs 

 beinof withdrawn after the hand has met these 

 impulses and established the trot. Between the 

 aids the trot should be maintained in a bold, free, 

 and even cadence, the extremities of the horse 

 well balanced, the jaw pliant, the horse springing 

 from a pair of diagonally disposed legs at each 

 stride. 



To bring the horse from the trot to the halt, the 

 le^s will first be closed ao^ainst its sides, and the 

 hand will take an increased tension upon the reins 

 until the animal comes to the walk, when it will be 

 brought to a stop in the manner before described. 



A slow but bold trot is the best pace in which to 

 practise the horse in the collection of the forces, as 

 the animal is then more ready to answer the heels 

 with increased impulses, which give the hand some- 

 thing to work with. 



In riding in the double-reined bridle I suggest 

 the following mode of holding the reins for the 

 early lessons. The curb reins, held in the left hand, 

 divided by the little finger, the loose ends of the 

 reins carried through the hand, and held fast by the 



