THE CANTER. 241 



short hold of the reins, so that if he makes any attempt to 

 *'play up," the breaker may bring him in an instant under 

 control by closing his legs (flat of the foot or heel as may 

 be required) firmly against his sides, and holding his 

 head tight by the reins. If the shy be made, say, to the 

 right, the animal while looking at the cause of alarm will 

 endeavour to swing his hind-quarters round to the right ; 

 consequently the breaker should turn the horse's head and 

 neck round to the right by the right rein aided by the 

 pressure of the left rein on the neck, and the hind-quarters 

 to the left by the drawn-back right foot, or by the whip or 

 cane held (as well as the right rein) in the right hand and 

 applied to the right side of the horse's hind-quarters. The 

 extent of the turn on the centre or on the forehand will 

 naturally be regulated by the amount required to bring the 

 horse's head, neck, and body into their original direction. 



The canter (see Points of the Horsi) is a pace of 

 three time in which the sequence of the steps are: (i) 

 near (or off J hind ; (2) near (or off) fore and off (or near) 

 hind ; and (3) off (or near) fore. As the horse, will 

 naturally lead with the inward fore leg when cantering on 

 a circle, he is said to be going to the left when leading with 

 the near fore (see Fig. 109), and to the right when leading 

 with the off fore. He is said to be " false " if, when circling 

 to the right, he leads with the left fore leg, and vice-versa. 

 The term " disunited " is applied to the canter when the 

 two legs of the second period of the stride belong to the 

 same side, and not to different ones ; as for instance : (i) 

 near hind ; (2) off fore and off hind ; (3) near fore. If 



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