THE SCIENTIFIC EQUITATION 



and gallops ten steps to the left. On the twenty- 

 first step it returns to the right-hand lead; and 

 so on. 



The difficulty is for the rider to keep count of the 

 steps, since the air demands for its correct perform- 

 ance that the number shall always be exactly the 

 same. Moreover, at its best, the movement requires 

 the change of lead at every step one stride with 

 lead to the right, then the change to the left, then 

 one stride with lead to the left, and again the 

 change back to the right, thus continuing indef- 

 initely. Naturally, this demands thorough training 

 for the horse and the highest equestrian tact from 

 the rider. 



Both Baucher and Fillis have performed this air 

 with remarkable evenness of rhythm. Fillis, also, 

 once upon a time, laid a heavy wager with certain 

 amateur horsemen, who denied the possibility of 

 the gallop a tempo, that he would ride from the 

 Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, with 

 a change of lead after every step. The grand master 

 won. 



In training a horse for this air, the change of lead 

 should be at first only once in every twenty steps. 

 Afterwards, with the greatest patience and moder- 

 ation, the number is reduced progressively. The 

 exercise demands great energy from the horse, 

 which must throughout remain perfectly calm. 

 Whatever the number of steps between changes of 

 lead, this must always remain unvaried. 



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