CHAPTER VII. 

 THE WALK, TROT, GALLOP, ETC. 



It is not necessary, nor is it desirable, that the tight 

 grip of the thighs should be maintained while at the 

 walk. • The gait is so smooth that the weight and the 

 balance will serve to keep the rider in his seat, and the 

 knees being in position, the thighs may instantaneously 

 take their hold in case of a sudden start of the horse. 

 But this ease should never degenerate into negligence, 

 and as a horse is more apt to stumble at a walk than at 

 a quicker gait, the rider must never permit his attention 

 to be taken from his horse. The horse should be kept 

 constantly in hand, particularly after any great exertion 

 that has called upon his strength, for he is much less 

 able to recover from a mistake when he is tired, and he 

 feels the fatigue less when he is kept roused. In going 

 down hill, he must have liberty enough to permit his 

 body conforming to the slope of ground, so that he may 

 extend his step safely. 



For the trot, the horse must.be kept light, between 

 the application of the hand and legs. The speed will be 

 restrained by the first, or augmented by the latter, at the 

 will of the rider, whose efforts should be so directed as 

 to give a regularly-cadenced gait of equal action, in the 

 highest equilibrium possible. The hight and brilliancy 

 of movement in the trot may be governed by the applica- 

 (62) 



