THE TROT. 149 



important to make the horse, whenever we Hke, exert himself 

 to the utmost at his trot. 



If a horse starts into the canter when we want him to do the 

 fast trot, we can at first try gentleness in order to correct this 

 habit, which is only idleness. We can stop him and pat him 

 on the neck, to reassure and calm him, and then put him 

 again into the trot. This plan generally succeeds with 

 impetuous horses, but it has no good effect on lazy ones, with 

 which we should do just the contrary. When an animal 

 breaks into the canter to avoid the fast trot, we should 

 vigorously push him forward into the gallop, and should keep 

 him at it for a certain distance, say for 500 or 600 yards, 

 which is to be the punishment of his resistance and laziness. 

 After a few experiences of this kind he will perceive that, so 

 far from obtaining relief by breaking into the canter from the 

 trot, he lets himself in for a severe and trying pace. This 

 plan is within the reach of everyone. There is another which 

 I can recommend, but which requires a greater knowledge of 

 riding. 



When the horse of his own accord breaks into the canter, 

 in order to escape from the fast trot which his rider wants 

 him to do, he naturally leads with the easier leg of the two. 

 I have already said that every horse has one side more easy 

 than the other. We can therefore thwart him in the pace he 

 has taken by pressing him forward at the canter, while making 

 the other leg lead ; for instance, with the right leg if he has of 

 his own accord struck off with the left leg. We will then 

 emplo}^ the near snaffle rein, in order to keep back the left 

 shoulder, which takes the lead, and the left leg to press the 

 haunches to the right* 



We should apply the opposite " aids " if the horse leads with 

 the right fore leg. It is self-evident that this plan, like the 



* It will be noted that I am doing lateral equitation here ; my reason being 

 that I take for granted that the horse is either imperfectly broken or unbroken. 



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