i68 ORDINARY RIDING. 



leg we wish, when we have placed him in the position to do 

 so, and have given him the proper indication with the legs.* 

 I then start him into the canter on the off fore, and keep him 

 at it until he becomes quiet. I then walk him for a minute 

 or two, and put him into the canter on the near fore, and 

 keep him at it, the same as before, until he is light and quiet, 

 after which I again walk him for some moments. Finally, I 

 start him into the canter on the off fore, and so on. I there- 

 fore make successive starts at the canter, each one being on 

 a- different leg. Little by little I shorten the periods during 

 which I let the horse walk between the starts at the canter, in 

 such a way that he does not take, for instance, more than five, 

 four, three, two, and finally, one step between the respective 

 starts. At last he learns to start into the canter alternately 

 from the stationary foot to the other foot, the starts being 

 jnterrupted only by the halt. 



Thus, the horse having been started into the canter on the 

 off fore, is stopped, and is immediately started again into the 

 canter on the near fore, this change of leg being helped by 

 the halt. As the true change of leg is done without halting, 

 it is called a change of leg in the air. 



At this period of his training the horse is ready for the 

 change of leg, which I ought to be able to make him 

 do without upsetting him in the least. I start him into 

 the canter on the near fore, while going to the right. 

 He therefore canters on the outward leg.f and I 

 support him at that time with the near rein and right 

 leg, which gives a stronger pressure than the left 

 leg. When I come to a corner of the school I completely 

 change my "aids," and use the off rem and left leg. This 



* Position by legs and hands and stimulation by the legs are two most 

 important principles in riding. 



t In this case he is cantering " false," which is the term used by EngUsh 

 cavalrymen. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



