SCHOOL RIDING. 449 



and 160, enables a rider to give separate indications with 

 either the near or off rein far more readily, than when the 

 reins are simply drawn through the hand and kept apart only 

 by the little finger, according to our military style (Fig. 167). 

 Besides, the former method affords a much firmer hold on 

 the reins, than the latter, and does not stiffen the hand. 



Ordinary school movements should comprise those de- 

 scribed in Chapter XL, and a change of the leading fore leg at 

 the canter, which can be best obtained — say, if the off fore is 

 leading — by touching the animal with the drawn-back right 

 heel or spur, at the moment that the near fore comes on the 

 ground (Fig. 19) ; pressing the off rein against the neck by 

 carrying the left hand a little to the near side, and at the 

 same time feeling the near rein by rotating the hand, so as 

 to bring the palm upwards ; and leaning the body to the near 

 side. The reversed aids will have to be employed for a 

 change from the near fore to the off fore. Readers who have 

 studied Chapters X. and XI. will understand the rationale 

 of these directions. Practice in doing the figure of 8 (see 

 Illustrated Horse-Breaking) will greatly help in making this 

 change. Although the turn on the haunches is a classical 

 school movement, its well-marked tendency to make a horse 

 rear, is a strong argument against its attempted execution. 

 It consists of a turn on the inward hind leg as a fixed pivot. 

 Hence, in a turn on the haunches, say, to the left, the rider 

 has to lean back and to the left ; apply his drawn-back right 

 foot strongly to the horse's side ; and turn him round to the 

 left by means of the reins, without allowing him to raise his 

 near hind off the ground. The more this turn is made on 

 the inward hind leg as a moving pivot, the less danger will 

 there be of making the animal rear. In this case, the turn 

 will be more or less on the centre. 



Readers who desire to study high school riding, will find 

 that subject admirably explained in Barroil's Art Equestre. 



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