58 



of stirrup and grip should be limited to the amount neccesary for the 

 comfort of the rider and the latter should endeavor to maintain his seat 

 chiefly by balance. 



The " close trot. " sometimes termed " military trot, " should be 

 practiced by all beginners until their body, legs and arms are thorough- 

 ly independent of the horse's motion and the pupil is able to retain the 

 stirrup under the ball of the foot. 



The close trot enables the rider to feel and understand the motions 

 of the horse and is the best agent for the attainment of a perfect balance. 



During each lesson, the pupil should trot for a limited time with- 

 out stirrups, crossing the same over the pommel of the saddle upon the 

 horse's shoulders. Balance being the only object of this method, the 

 rider should abstain wholly from the use of the grip, giving himself up 

 completely to the horse's motion and leaving the legs hang loosely by 

 the sides. 



One or two rounds upon both the right and left hand will suffice at 

 first, until the pupil has begun to feel at ho:n j ia the sadlk, when the 

 time of the exercise as well as the speed may be gradually increased. If 

 the trot without stirrups is continued too long or too violently, the pupil 

 will become exhausted and the benefit of this most valuable exercise is 

 lost. 



During the turns around the corners, the riders weight should be 

 sufficiently brought toward the inside or centre of the ring. 



THE AIDS. 



The aids, which control the carriage, the position and the move- 

 ments of the horse are based upon the law of gravitation, the action of 

 the centrifugal and centripetal forces and the force of leverage. 



They are applied, with regard to the anatomical construction and 

 the understanding of the horse, and consist of the aids of reins, legs and 

 weight, 



"We divide the aids of reins and legs into the in and outside-aids, 

 calling the side toward the centre of the ring, or that side, toward which 

 the horse moves, the inside ; the other, near the wall, or the one, away 

 from which the horse moves, the outside. 



The inside rein performs three functions ; First it is the " rein of 

 connection " it should maintain an uninterrupted communication, be- 

 tween the riders hands and the horse's mouth, depending as to the 

 amount of tension, upon the individuality of the horse. All impressions 

 of the inside rein is given directly backward and it should lean 

 against the lower third of the horses neck, there being no instance in 

 the art of riding, where the inside rem is pulled away from the neck. 

 It tends in its position to steady the lower part of the neck. Second, 

 it is the " rein of position." Its fixes the head in its vertical and lat- 

 eral position and controls the flexions of the neck. Because of the 

 former two functions, it is also, third, the"rein of guidance". It prepares 

 the forehand for all evolutions by giving the head and neck their de- 

 sired position and begins in so doing the guidance of the horse. 



