RIDING AND TRAINING. 147 



knees of the fore-legs are more bent than in the 

 Spanish trot, for the fore-legs are not so extended 

 as in that movement, and it is without doubt the 

 most graceful motion of which the horse is capable. 

 The passage is usually taught by permitting the 

 action of the Spanish trot to become languid ; but 

 the better method is to bring the horse up to it from 

 the ordinary trot by demanding a close union and 

 forcing the action with the opposite spurs, as in the 

 Spanish Trot. 



The Piaffer is the passage in place, and is per- 

 formed by the horse in a state of perfect equilibrium, 

 the forces of the forehand and of the croup being so 

 balanced that no movement is made in any direction. 

 In the piaffer the horse should move the diagonal 

 legs together and in perfect unison. It should only 

 be attempted after the horse has been taught the 

 passage, and may then be procured by restraining 

 the forward movement of the horse and maintaining 

 the action by means of the spurs, as in the passage. 

 The horse is put in the piaffer when changes of 

 direction in the traverse are to be made, so that the 

 lightness will not be lost; as if, for instance, the 

 horse be traversing in the passage to the right, and 

 the rider wishes to go back over the same lines 

 to the left ; upon arriving at the spot where the 

 change is to be made, the horse would be brought 



