THE CHANGES IN THE GALLOP. 63 



ance with the action of the pace, and by which the 

 bearers are best prepared to support the centre of 

 gravity, but that it is not always the case I am 

 assured. It is also the better mode of demanding 

 the changes from the trained horse, for the same 

 reason, and because it does not break the cadence, 

 because it does not give a false stride, and because 

 it keeps the animal true to the line of direction. 



Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate the second mode 

 of changing, when the change begins with the fore- 

 legs. In this case the fore-legs may begin to 

 change at the moment they are free, and the horse 

 has gone into air, but not much can be effected 

 before a hind-leg has taken the weight (see Figs. 

 6, 1 , and 4). When the fore-hand comes down, the 

 fore-legs have been changed, but the hind-legs 

 follow the old order, and the horse is false behind 

 (see Fig. 5). When the centre of gravity is about 

 to pass over the fore-leg from which the horse will 

 go into air, the hind-legs begin to change, and the 

 horse will be true in the new lead in the stride that 

 is thus entered upon. 



Schooled horses usually make the changes at first 

 by the latter method, and, as they learn to obey the 

 aids with readiness, they fall into the first-described 

 and better mode ; and it is only by beginning with 

 the hind-legs that the changes at each stride can be 



