RIDING AND TRAINING. 15 



in time bend the body with the motions of the horse 

 without being aware of any mental effort, and it is 

 only by such practice that one becomes a skilled 

 rider. I do not mean, by what I have written above, 

 that the rider should keep his body swinging like 

 a metronome. It is only when the motion of 

 the horse is vigorous enough to demand a corre- 

 sponding motion on the part of the rider, to keep 

 his equilibrium, that the body should be moved ; 

 but the rider must be ready at any moment to 

 make the bend of the body, and it is only practice 

 and presence of mind that will bring this faculty 

 to an instinct. 



To put the horse into the trot, the rider should 

 first demand the walk. Then he will close his legs 

 against the sides of the horse, and take a light ten- 

 sion upon the reins, in such a manner as not to 

 quicken or retard the pace. This application of the 

 aids will serve to collect the horse, and when this 

 has been effected, as will be perceived by the more 

 vigorous action with which the walk is performed, 

 the horse will be urged to greater exertion by an 

 increased pressure of the legs or by a tap of the 

 whip behind the girths, and the hands will give 

 sufficient freedom for the animal to move forward 

 in the trot. 



The rider will endeavour to keep the pace even 



