THE DIAGONAL EFFECT 



And there is all the demonstration of the theorem 

 and the solution of the problem! 



Every horse, however, has one side which is more 

 supple than the other; and it is better to begin prac- 

 tice in changing lead by shifting from the less supple 

 to the more supple side. 



Suppose, for example, that the more flexible side 

 is the left. My horse being straight, I start it gal- 

 loping to the right, by the method given above, and 

 keep it going straight. I then reverse all my effects. 

 If the horse changes lead, I stop it as soon as may be, 

 and recompense its obedience. When it is completely 

 calm, I begin again, galloping to the right. After 

 several steps, I again change ; and again recompense. 



When the horse understands the change of lead 

 from right to left, I proceed in the same way to 

 teach the change from left to right. At first, I ask 

 the change only after the horse has galloped ten or 

 fifteen steps on the same foot. When the horse 

 manages this, I reduce the interval progressively, 

 first to six or eight steps, then to four, and finally 

 to only two. I need not say that this training takes 

 time that cannot be measured by days or lessons. 

 I progress slowly, ask very little, rest my horse a 

 great deal, and keep calm. I do not, under any 

 circumstances, permit my horse to choose the lead 

 for itself, nor to change foot on its own initiative. 

 It is essential that the rider always impose his 

 mastership upon the horse's intelligence. The rules 

 are: short lessons, precision helped by moderation, 



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