CHANGING LEG. 291 



we should give him similar instruction on the left rein. 

 When we have thus got him to strike off correctly with either 

 fore leg, we should gradually bring him to do so, when 

 placed in a straight line and away from the walls of the 

 manege. This aij^ requires a horse to be thoroughly 

 obedient to the aids, and demands a preparation as well as 

 a stimulus. 



Although, to facilitate instruction, the horse may at first 

 be placed with his head turned away from the direction in 

 which he is to proceed, he should be taught later on to 

 strike off into the canter from the trot, walk, or halt, with 

 his head straight, or even slightly bent to the side of the 

 fore leg with which it is intended for him to lead off. He 

 will then have to rely almost entirely on the respective 

 signals given by the legs and by the displacement of the 

 weight of the rider's body. 



Changing the leg at the canter. — Having taught the 

 horse, without changing his direction, to strike off steadily 

 and promptly into the canter with either fore leg, as may 

 be required, from the trot, walk, and halt, we may canter 

 him down the centre of the school, say, with the near fore 

 leading, and at the moment when he brings that leg down 

 on the ground, we should apply the drawn-back left leg, 

 feel the right rein, place the weight on the right stirrup, and 

 make the horse turn more or less sharply to the right, so as 

 to oblige him to change his leg. We should gradually work 

 him in this way, and with the off as well as the near fore 

 leading, so that he will make the change on receiving the 

 signal from the aids, without deviating from a straight line. 



U 2 



