THE SPANISH AND THE FLYING TROT 



moderate and so progressive that the horse has time 

 to develop the muscular strength needed to execute 

 the air without overmuch effort. 



THE FLYING TROT 



THE flying trot has the same cadence and high 

 step as the Spanish trot, but the movement forward 

 is at greater speed. Since, then, the action is both 

 high and rapid, it demands great strength and en- 

 ergy on the part of the horse. Some hackneys, 

 however, take naturally the flying trot when mod- 

 erately supported by the contact of the bits. 



The air cannot be executed on every kind of 

 ground. If the track is too soft, the hind legs fail to 

 give the needed drive. If too hard, the blow of the 

 front feet on the ground will be painful, and the 

 horse will be discouraged. 



The movement is obtained by gradually acceler- 

 ating the Spanish trot, but without keeping the 

 horse too long at the exercise. Evidently, since this 

 added speed does not alter the elevation of the 

 diagonal bipeds, the gait demands from the esquire 

 or master the greatest accuracy of seat and effects. 

 For the horse, at the flying trot, gets high off the 

 ground; and if the seat of the rider and his effects 

 are not exactly correct and accurate, the horse is 

 disturbed in its cadence and the elevation of the 

 action is lost. 



Personally, I should not care for the Spanish trot 

 if it were not the means of obtaining the flying trot, 



267 



