STRIKING OFF IN CANTER. 289 



(which give brilliancy to the trot and walk) can be obtained 

 either by stimulating the horse from the walk to the trot 

 and holding him in, or by drawing him in from the 

 ordinary trot to the slower and more elevated paces. The 

 comparative action of the fore and hind legs can be in- 

 creased by respectively raising or lowering the hands, and 

 by bringing the weight of the body backward or forward ; 

 and vice versa. As the piajfer is useful only as a prepara- 

 tory exercise for the collected short canter, and for change 

 of leg, we should not check the horse if, when at the 

 piajfer, he breaks into this canter. I may point out 

 that although the piaffer is, in itself, of no practical 

 utility, the collected short canter is indispensable for 

 cavalry purposes, especially in single combat with sword 

 or lance. 



I may mention that, although to obtain the desired effect 

 quickly, we may in our first few lessons bend the horse's 

 head to one side or the other when proceeding in a straight 

 direction, we should avoid doing so later on ; for elegance 

 of carriage is incompatible with any rocking movement of 

 the body. 



Teaching a horse to strike ofif correctly into the 

 canter (see page 241). — We may begin from the trot, and 

 should in all cases first collect our horse. Just before 

 turning a corner of the school, when trotting for instance 

 to the right, we should touch the horse with the drawn-back 

 left heel at the moment when the near fore comes down ; 

 and, as described on page 243, apply the other aids for 

 obtaining the canter with the off fore leading. By starting 



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