RIDING AND TRAINING. 127 



horse goes out of hand and becomes disunited the 

 synchronal action of each pair of legs is lost and 

 the pace becomes heavy, rough, and inelegant. But 

 it will readily be understood that the united trot is 

 admirably adapted to the traverse, when the fore- 

 hand and the croup follow parallel paths, as the 

 extremities step together and maintain a regular, 

 even, and easy action. 



If it be intended to traverse to the right, the 

 horse will be put ' in hand ' at the trot, and then 

 collected to the imion, which must be observed while 

 the movement continues. At the point where the 

 side movement is to begin, the forehand will be 

 retarded until the croup is carried up into the 

 proper position ; unless the horse approaches the 

 point where the traversing is to begin with the 

 forehand and the croup holding their , proper places 

 with regard to the line of march that is, with the 

 forehand one step in advance of the croup. 



At a slow trot, in the highest union, the horse 

 will be made to pass on two paths to the right. The 

 bridle hand will, with the curb reins, direct the 

 forehand and bend the head in the direction the 

 horse goes. The left leg of the rider will press the 

 croup 1 along in steps similar in length to those taken 



1 It must be understood that the right fore-leg and left hind-leg step 

 together ; the left fore-leg and right hind-leg step together ; the legs of the 

 side opposite to which the horse moves pass in front of the others. 



