134 RING-RIDING. 



In this way he will become thoroughly acquainted with the 

 I)rinciples of the different paces, movements, and positions 

 connected therewith. 



Other forms of fancy riding are " high-school tandem " — 

 a beautiful sight when both horses are highly trained ; rid- 

 ing one horse while driving a team, and riding one horse 

 while driving two or more horses in tandem. 



GAMES. 



There are a number of games for ring-riding, all tend- 

 ing to give the rider confidence and to improve his horse- 

 manship. 



One is, catching rings on a short sword, from an arm that 

 automatically replaces a ring as fast as one is taken away, 

 the riders going around the ring at a trot or gallop. This is 

 the same as those placed on every " merry-go-round," and 

 needs no further explanation. 



Another is, to ride at a suspended ring with a spear, and 

 to catch the ring on the same ; also to spear a head placed 

 on a post. Sometimes a number of posts, with heads and 

 suspended rings, are fixed at certain places about the ring, 

 and each rider must follow a certain course and execute cer- 

 tain movements, all tending to display his expertness as a 

 rider, in addition to attempting to spear the heads and rings. 



" Defending the Flag " is a game where two riders try to 

 prevent a third from taking a flag, the pole of which is stuck 

 in the top of a post mounted on a pedestal. This, while quite 

 interesting and exciting, perhaps, to the spectators, does not 

 require any special display of horsemanship. 



The game of " Tahiyig the Rosette " (Jeu de Barre), some- 

 times called " Tag," is, on the contrary, one that requires the 

 highest development of horsemanship and judgment to be 

 properly ridden. 



