74 NEW METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



order that the movement should be correct and free, it is 

 necessary that this pivot upon which the whole turns be 

 not interfered with in its action ; the simultaneous action 

 of the right hand and the right leg must necessarily pro- 

 duce this effect. The equilibrium is thus destroyed, and 

 the regularity of the wheeling rendered impossible. 



As soon as the horse executes easily the changes of 

 direction at a walk, and keeps himself perfectly light, 

 we can commence exercising at a trot. 



The ^ro^.— The rider will commence this pace at a very 

 moderate rate of speed, following exactly the same prin- 

 ciples as for the walk. He will keep his horse perfectly 

 light, not forgetting that the faster the pace, the more 

 disposition there w-ill be on the part of the animal to fall 

 back again into his natural contractions. The hand 

 should then be used with redoubled nicety, in order to 

 keep the head and neck always pliable, without affecting 

 the impulse necessary to the movement. The legs will 

 lightly second the hands, and the horse between these 

 two barriers, which are obstacles only to his improper 

 movements, will soon develop all his best faculties, and 

 with precision of movement, will acquire grace, exten- 

 sion, and the steadiness inherent to the lightness of the 



whole. • 



Although many persons w^ho would not take the 

 trouble to examine thoroughly my method, have pre- 

 tended that it is opposed to great speed in trotting, it is 

 not the less proved that the well-balanced horse can trot 

 faster than the one destitute of this advantage. I have 

 given proofs of this whenever they have been demanded 

 of me ; but it is in vain that I have tried to make people 

 understand what constitutes the motions of the trot, and 

 what are the conditions indispensable for regularity in 

 executing it. So, I was obliged in a race of which I was 



