292 SCHOOL BREAKING. 



By practising him at this and by keeping him well in hand, 

 we may finally get him to change his leg at each stride, 

 at every second stride, or at every third stride as may be 

 desired. 



We select the moment the horse brings down the leading 

 fore leg (namely, the third period of the canter, see Fig. 

 120) as the one at which to give the signal for the change ; 

 because the hind leg of the same side as the leading 

 fore is about to quit the ground at that time, and conse- 

 quently, on being stimulated by the rider's foot, it can be 

 brought forward under the animal's body with the least 

 possible delay, so as to make the required change. It may 

 be objected that it is impossible to tell, when in the saddle, 

 the exact periods of the canter ; that school riders, long 

 before the horse's movements at the canter had been 

 investigated, were able from practice to give the signal for 

 the change ; and that, in attempting to do so, we must be 

 guided solely by the inspiration of the moment. Although 

 the necessary skill can be obtained only by practice ; one 

 certainly is greatly helped in one's endeavour by knowing 

 the principles upon which one should work. 



Figure of eight at the canter. — We should teach the 

 horse the figure of 8 at the canter in the manner described 

 on page 244, except that we should make the horse change 

 his leg immediately on entering the new circle. 



Cantering falsely. — Purposely making a horse canter 

 falsely is the best possible practice for teaching him to obey 

 the aids and for preventing him from becoming routing ; for 



