76 THE WALK. 



small circles, slie should begin to ride in double circles; 

 at first of considerable diameter, but decreasing them, 

 by degrees, as she improves. Riding in double circles, 

 is guiding the horse to perform a figure of 8 ; and this, 

 in the language of the riding-school, is effecting the 

 large and narrow change, according to the size of the 

 circles. The number of the circles may be increased, 

 and the sizes varied, with great advantage both to the 

 rider and the horse. They may be at some distance 

 from each other, and the horse be guided to work from 

 one to the other diagonally. Thus, suppose he starts 

 from a, he may be made to leave the upper circle at e, 

 and enter the lower one at d ; leave it at 

 c, and enter the first again at h ; and so 

 continue for some time : then, beginning 

 at /, to quit the lower circle at c, enter 

 the upper one at 6, leave it at e, and 

 enter the lower circle again at d. Thus, 

 '^ the position of the rider and horse are 

 alternately changed, from working from 

 the right to a straight line, thence to the 

 left, thence to a straight line, and thence 

 again to the right. To give an instance of riding in a 

 greater number of circles, of different diameters, let the 

 horse start from a (see figure, p. 77), and leave the 

 upper circle at h, traversing to the outer small circle at 

 c, passing round, so as to enter the inner circle at e, and 

 going round, by /, to g; quitting it at g, and entering 



