THE FIGURES OF MANEGE 



ward the center of the manege with croup toward 

 the wall. 



To obtain the shoulder-in, from left to right, the 

 rider, having his mount in hand and forward, in- 

 creases the pull of the left rein to flex the head and 

 neck slightly to the left. At the same time, he in- 

 creases also the effect of his left leg, carrying it a 

 little backward on the flank, and thus pushes the 

 haunches toward the right. Meanwhile, the right 

 rein prevents the complete flexion of the neck to the 

 left, and forces the left shoulder toward the right in 

 front of the right leg. 



The result is that the horse's left front leg passes 

 in front of and across the right, while at the same 

 time the left hind leg also passes in front of and 

 across its mate. Thereupon, the horse, in order not 

 to fall, steps out to the right with both right legs, 

 and the first step of the shoulder-in is completed. 

 Continuing the same effects continues the move- 

 ment. 



But the student, who considers anatomically the 

 mechanism of the horse and its action in the various 

 movements, will agree with the anatomist that the 

 muscles and articulations of the horse's shoulder 

 are not designed to allow natural movements of the 

 humerus and scapula in any direction except for- 

 ward and back. The horse, in short, is not a crab, 

 built to go sidewise. The shoulder-in and the half- 

 passage are therefore unnatural contortions com- 

 pelled by riders who know no better. 



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