34 EQUITATION. 



ducted by a harmonious elevation and setting down 

 of the feet, each foot being dropped flat on the 

 ground, and -not, as is too often the case, the toe 

 being placed first, and then the heel. One lady by 

 a good seat and hand, will cause her horse to carry 

 his head, with his neck arched, and to elevate and 

 extend his limbs, the one in unison with the other ; 

 another, by her bad hand, and seat, will bring the 

 horse she rides, to step short, and irregular, and so 

 mix his trot, with his walk, as to do little more 

 than shuffle over the ground. 



Previous to urging the horse into a walk, the 

 lady should ascertain that he is well in hand, and 

 on his proper balance ; then, by turning her hand, 

 with the little finger towards her breast, she must 

 increase the bearing upon the horse's mouth, to 

 draw his attention, and at the same instant, she 

 must communicate to him, by closing the leg, and 

 using the whip gently upon the right side, a suf- 

 ficient impulse to carry him forward, easing, as 

 he advances, the bearing upon the mouth, by the 

 hand resuming its proper position, but she must 

 not slacken the reins. 



In the walk, the reins should be held so that 

 the rider have a delicate, but distinct feeling of 

 the horse's mouth, to cause the horse to carry his 

 head in a proper position, and to keep time in the 

 beats of his action, but not held so tightlv, as to 



