SHOWING SADDLE HORSES 181 



your mount should lead on his off or right foot. The 

 slower the canter the better, for a horse that can canter 

 on a "ten-cent-piece," is very highly thought of. In 

 this particular, the thoroughbred has it all his own 

 way, for there are few horses that can beat him at it. 



A few judges require that each horse start canter- 

 ing at a given point in front of them, which is a very 

 good idea, as in no other way can a judge tell in a large 

 field of horses whether each individual has broken on 

 his proper foot at the first attempt. 



At some shows the figure eight is required, and each 

 horse is expected to change leads properly in the centre 

 of the ring. If he is troublesome in doing this, it is 

 best to pull him up in the centre and start him on the 

 other foot rather than attempt to swing him into a 

 change, as might be done with a more properly schooled 

 horse. In championship classes, or special challenge- 

 cup competitions, the riders are sometimes requested, 

 one at a time, to canter their horses up and down the 

 rail, leading first on one leg and then on the other. 

 To do this, go about it quietly, keep your horse's head 

 near the rail with his hindquarters out and break him 

 almost from a standstill; at the top turn him around, 

 toward and not away from the rail, again point his 

 head toward the rail and start him down the other way 

 on the other lead. If there are many "rail birds " who 

 are thoughtlessly leaning over the edge fluttering pro- 

 grammes, etc., do not hesitate to speak to them and 

 ask them please to draw their heads and' hands in. 



In breaking a horse into a canter, or changing leads, 

 learn to tell if he is on the right leg by the "feel" 

 and by the "play" of his shoulder muscles. Don't lean 

 over the side and look down at his feet, as so many 

 riders do, as if you had to see which foot he was leading 



