THE EQUILIBRIUM. g- 



by tapping him upon the croup with the 

 whip held behind the rider's back, while 

 both heels are pressed into the horse's 

 flanks. When the horse will answer to 

 the pressure of the heels by bringing his 

 hind-legs in under him, the taps of the 

 whip should be abandoned and the heels 

 only should be used. 



The approximate equilibrium must be 

 constant, for the moment that it is lost al- 

 together the horse becomes heavy, and one 

 extremity or the other must drag in action. 

 This not only applies to the forward or 

 backward movements upon direct lines, but 

 to all changes of direction and traverses to 

 either side. Of course, in every movement 

 the equilibrium is more or less disturbed ; 

 but the better it is kept, the lighter and 

 the more graceful will be the action. 



