THE CANTER. 159 



There are three ways of seeing that a horse canters with 

 tiie off fore leading : 



First, it is sufficient to look at his shoulders or feet. If he 

 canters with the off fore leading, the off shoulder, and 

 especially the off fore foot, will respectively be in advance of 

 the near shoulder and near fore foot. 



Second, the horse has always his croup a little turned to 

 the side of the leading fore leg. 



Third, when the off fore leads, the right leg of the rider is 

 more shaken than the left leg,* and consequently it is more 

 difficult to keep that knee close to the flap of the saddle than 

 the other knee. 



After a series of attentive observations, we ought to be 

 able to tell with what leg a horse leads, even with our eyes 

 shut. 



Before going further in the teaching of breaking, it is 

 important to explain the movements of the canter.t 



The canter of the school horse and hack ought to be in 

 well-marked three time. J 



Three times (beats) are, therefore, necessary to form a 

 stride of the canter. Let us take, for example, the canter 

 with the off fore leading. 



bringing his hocks under his body. Thus the forehand will be lightened in 

 proportion as the hind quarters drive the body forward. 



At this time, half-turns on the haunches will be very useful, provided that 

 the rider has enough tad to keep the haunches well engaged and the horse well 

 up to his bit. 



* The right hock, placed under the body, gives more impulse in the canter to 

 the right than the left hock, and it is the one which displaces the right knee of 

 the rider. The action of the left hock, which is much more to the rear, and is 

 consequently a less powerful propelling agent, has necessarily a much less 

 displacing effect on the left knee. 



t This study is necessary for the changes of leg. 



\ The long-striding gallop, like that of the racecourse, is in four time. The 

 very short canter of a rassembli^A horse, of which pace I shall speak later on, is 

 also in four time. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



