THE REASONED EQUITATION 



sential for beginners, and they include it in their 

 systems. 



Only after both the lateral and direct flexions of 

 mouth and neck are mastered standing, should the 

 student proceed either to the mobilization of the 

 hind legs by means of the ordinary rotation, in 

 accordance with Baucher's method: or, following 

 Fillis, should execute a form of the rotation in 

 which the horse moves at a walk in such wise that 

 the tracks of fore and hind feet make two con- 

 centric circles, with that traced by the hind feet 

 outside the other. The latter is, in my judgment, 

 the more progressive and the more rational. 



When the beginner has mastered the reversed 

 pirouette, he next "carries his horse forward" at a 

 walk, the horse always giving the direct flexions of 

 mouth and neck without altering its gait, and then 

 asks the lateral flexions of the neck. I advocate 

 making this flexion in such wise that the horse's 

 head shall turn toward the wall of the ring. Other- 

 wise, the pupil will think that it is his own leg which 

 keeps the haunches from turning, when really it is 

 the presence of the wall. When, therefore, the 

 pupil tries to keep the horse straight away from the 

 wall, he finds that he cannot do it, and must go 

 back to the wall again. 



Even when walking with the right side against 

 the wall, the haunches of the horse tend to be 

 displaced to the right at the lateral flexion of the 

 neck to the left, so that it is by the effect of the 



154 



