HOBSEMAffSHIP FOE GENTLEME1T. 



constant feeling or correspondence, the horse is easily 

 governed, and cheerfully works to the will of the rider ; ; 

 and nothing tends more to create good- will between the 

 horse and rider, than light and steady hands, never wan- 

 tonly tugging, or pressing unnecessarily on the horse's 

 mouth, which not only chafes and frets him, but renders 

 the proper governing signals indistinct, and, in many 

 instances, consequently, the hor.se is severely punished 

 for seeming disobedience, when the sole blame rests with 

 the inexperienced rider. 



The aid or signal for a canter is conveyed to the 

 horse by a double feel on the horse's mouth on the off 1 

 side, and a light pressure of the leg on the near side, to 

 which a properly broken horse will at once answer by 

 stepping off into a short and graceful canter, with the 

 right or proper leg leading ; and any disposition to lag, 

 or slackening in pace, may be corrected by a repetition 

 of these signals, which is a far superior method for con- 

 veying the requirements or wishes of the rider, than the 

 vulgar and cruel application of the whip, so commonly 

 used for this purpose. 



The beauty of horsemanship is to sit still, and govern 

 the steed with as little exertion as possible, combining 

 firmness of seat and balance of body with steadiness of 

 hand and beauty of position, in place of the toes and 

 elbows being at right angles, sitting all on the back part 

 of the leg, the arms flying about like the sails of a 

 windmill, and the whole body displaying a series of 

 those awkward movements in the trot, consequent upon 



