EIQE-SCHOOL AND OTHER FORMS OF FANCY RIDING. 133 



HIGH-SCHOOL AND OTHER FORMS OF FANCY RIDING. 



High-school refers to the schooling of the horse in 

 movements further advanced than the ordinary straight- 

 forward riding in walk, trot, or gallop. Movements, how- 

 ever, which belong to the high-school, but should neverthe- 

 less be taught to every well-trained saddle-horse to perfect 

 his schooling, do not constitute " high-school " ; such are the 

 movements on two paths, called " shoulder in," " shoulder 

 out," and the " travers" Not only are these movements 

 good for the horse, but it would be well for the class to 

 practice them for its own improvement, and especially for 

 the use of the legs, which they necessitate, and the knowl- 

 edge of the different effects to be realized by the proper use 

 of the reins gained thereby. 



There are very few horses fully trained in the different 

 high-school moveiuents on and over the ground, the vast 

 majority being only in the primary department, so to speak, 

 and their training limited to the so-called SjMnish lualh and 

 trot or hop. 



Nothing can be more pleasing to the lover of the horse 

 than to see one fully trained going through his paces — the 

 movements on two paths in walk, trot, and gallop ; the Span- 

 ish walk and trot and the piaffe ; the gallop change at any 

 certain number of steps ; the pirouette in gallop ; kneeling, 

 rearing, leaping on the spot, the parade on ending the gallop, 

 the backward gallop, and so forth. 



High-school is essentially a prominent feature of ring- 

 riding, but requires no special designing of movements, any 

 simple figures being ridden that will show the different 

 paces to the best advantage. If four or more are riding, 

 similar figures are ridden in unison ; or a regular quadrille 

 figure can be devised, with the same object in view. 



Any one desiring to become thoroughly proficient in 

 " high-school " will find the best way to be, to start and 

 finish training a horse in the high-school movements with 

 the aid and under the guidance of a competent instructor. 



