The Walk. 121 



relaxed the next instant, — the hand keeping exact 

 time in its operations with the cadence of the 

 horse's feet. The direction is to be frequently 

 changed; the pupil alternately working to the 

 right and the left, so as to bring both her hands 

 into practice. 



As soon as the rider becomes tolerably well con- 

 firmed in her seat and balance, and in the perform- 

 ance of the simple aids and animations, as well in 

 large as in small circles, she 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 dis- 

 tance 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 g, and en- 

 ter the lower one at d ; leave it at 

 c, and enter the first again at b; 

 and so continue for some time : then, 

 11 



