I I 2 ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



or decreasing the pace, and the action then should 

 be very light, graceful, and steady. The evidences 

 of the union are the same in the trot as in the 

 walk. 



The poise should also be demanded, and the trot 

 be again resumed before the horse becomes heavy. 

 The poise in action is produced to put an end to the 

 movement with a view of repeating it, or of obtain- 

 ing another movement before the horse becomes 

 disunited, and it should never be of such a duration 

 that all of the feet come firmly to the ground at one 

 time, but the forces being balanced in some stride of 

 a pace, the action should be resumed so rapidly that 

 the flexed legs shall take steps in the new movement. 

 The poise is sometimes called the half halt, and may 

 be likened to the state of a pendulum that, having 

 swung to its limit in one direction, is about to swing 

 back. In the poise in action three, even all, the feet 

 may touch the ground, but not more than two of 

 the legs should have become so rigid that they 

 cannot give an impulse without being raised again. 

 For in the poise there is no momentum to carry the 

 mass over the centre of gravity. In the poise from 

 a halt the horse should be ready for a movement ; 

 in the poise in action the horse should be put into 

 some action by the same aids that have produced 

 the poise or balance of forces. (Fig. 19.) The 



