SHOWING HORSES 



rights of others in that you attempt no cutting 

 off of contending horses, by pulling across them, 

 and forcing them to shorten stride, or to pull up 

 altogether. A number of professional tricks have 

 been adopted by some of our amateurs, and no 

 good can come of it. 



A saddle class makes its appearance at a walk, 

 as should all others, but that we have fallen into 

 the error of disregarding, officially, a horse's abil- 

 ities at this, the most important pace he employs. 

 The bold, free, upheaded, flat-footed walker, is as 

 hard to beat as he is to find. Ride your horse 

 every yard, and keep one eye on the judges, if 

 he is a slack walker, ready to seize the opportu- 

 nity to jog a few steps up to your leader, and re- 

 gain the ground you have lost. When told to 

 trot, take a nice collected park pace, such as your 

 animal can exhibit without hopping or hitching, 

 and stick to it, going closely into the corners, and 

 making your mount bend himself nicely ; at the 

 canter — and never let that pace degenerate into 

 the gallop, — go calmly and collectedly, changing 

 your lead in straight going if you can (and if a 

 judge is looking), as evidence of handiness. On 

 lining up, take room for yourself, and give it to 

 others, and after your mount has stretched his 



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