XVIII. 



Work at the slow trot. — In one of the first answers we 

 mentioned the utihty of the trot and explained the 

 advantages in training resulting from the use of this gait. 

 We can only repeat here what we have said before — the 

 slow trot especially gives excellent results in the last 

 stages of training. Suppling exercises for the haunches, 

 shoulders, and jaw, when executed at this gait produce 

 rapid progress in the horse; they increase his strength 

 and suppleness by forcing him to acquire and preserve 

 his balance. 



Small circles. — Small circles lower the horse's croup; 

 the inside hock is necessarily brought under and the out- 

 side shoulder is developed because it has a greater dis- 

 tance to travel. Moreover, this work on a restricted 

 circle enables the rider to set a horse that experiences 

 difficulty in bending the body and it aids in breaking up 

 the contraction of the horse that pulls too hard on the 

 hand. 



Small circles should be rarely used with horses that 

 hang back, for it is to be noted that on the circle they are 

 especially prone to get behind the bit. Nor should turns 

 be used too much with young horses with blemished or 

 worn-out hocks. As for the aids to be used, it depends 

 upon whether the horse has a tendency to let the haunches 

 swing out or the reverse — to let them drag inside. In 

 the first case the inside rein and the outside leg should 

 predominate; in the second case the important aids will 

 be the inside rein and leg. 



Serpentines. — Serpentines produce about the same 

 results as small circles, but in addition they accustom the 



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