THE GALLOP. 93 



without the intervention and aid of the rider, the latter 

 can direct at his pleasure the whole of his moving parts, 

 and, consequently, can easily and promptly execute 

 changes of feet. 



We know the contraction of any one part of the horse 

 reacts on the neck, and that the stiffness of this part pre- 

 vents the proper execution of every movement. If, 

 then, at the moment of setting off on a gallop, the 

 horse stiffens one of his extremities, and consequently 

 his neck, of what use in determining him in starting 

 with the right foot can be the support of one or the 

 other leg of the rider, or even of that of both at once ? 

 These means will evidently be ineffectual until we go 

 back to the source of the resistance, for the purpose of 

 combating and destroying it. Here, as in every other 

 case, we see that suppleness and lightness alone can 

 make the execution of the work easy. 



If, when we wish to make the horse start with the 

 right foot, a slight contraction of one part of the animal 

 disposes him to start with the left foot, and we persist in 

 inducing the pace, we must employ two forces on the 

 same side, viz. : the left leg and the left hand ; the first 

 to determine the movement, the second to combat the 

 contrary disposition of the horse. 



But when the horse, perfectly supple and gathered, 

 only brings his parts into play after the impression given 

 them by the rider, the latter, in order to start with the 

 right foot, ought to combine an opposition of forces 

 proper for keeping the horse in equilibrium, while plac- 

 ing him in the position required for the movement. He 

 will then bear the hand to the left, and press his right 

 leg. Here we see that the means mentioned above, 

 necessary when the horse is not properly placed, would 

 be wrong when the animal is properly placed, since it 



