THE SCIENTIFIC EQUITATION 



case, the movement becomes dislocated and im- 

 possible. 



But the swing of the rider's body should never 

 be a stiff inclination backward of a rigid spine. 

 The weight is, at the beginning, immobile upon the 

 saddle. Then for the change, the rider's spine plays 

 back and forth, flexing at the coupling between the 

 sacrum and the last lumbar vertebra, in time with 

 each beat of the gallop and at the precise instant 

 when the horse's two hind feet are off the ground, 

 and the right fore leg only is bearing the weight 

 assuming that the backward gallop starts from the 

 gallop terre-a-terre on the right lateral biped. This 

 translation of the weight by the flexion of the cou- 

 pling is to be repeated at each beat of the stride. 

 Meanwhile, the rider's legs have to sustain the 

 equilibrium and to hold the contact of the horse's 

 mouth with the bits. 



If, now, the rider, as he swings his weight, merely 

 closes his fingers, without moving his hand, the 

 horse will gallop backward, one step only, but still 

 one step. That obtained, stop everything, yield 

 everything, and caress. When the horse has be- 

 come calm, forward again at the walk and the 

 terre-a-terre at the same hand as before. Be quiet 

 yourself; flex your spine; finger. Another step 

 backward. That is enough for the time being. 

 Dismount; arid to the stable. The next day, the 

 same progression. 



After a few days, you will be able to obtain 



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