26o HIGH-SCHOOL RIDING. 



With certain light and well-shaped horses, I have obtained 

 changes of the leg at the canter almost immediately ; although 

 the majority of horses generally require six months to learn 

 to do it properly. The same can be said of everything in 

 riding. 



SHOULDER-IN AT THE CANTER. 



I have put demi-voltes at the canter into ordinary riding, 

 because one might require, when hacking, to take a few steps 

 at the canter on two tracks, in a more or less correct manner, 

 in order to get out of somebody's way. I will now take up 

 the study of the canter in high-school riding. 



When the horse does demi-voltes correctly at the canter, I 

 try by shoulder-in work at the canter, to bring his shoulders 

 away from the wall. For this, the horse has been admirably 

 prepared by work on two tracks at the school walk, and 

 further by demi-voltes at the canter. 



I start my horse at a canter on the near fore, and being on 

 the right track, I keep him on it for a few strides. I then 

 carry my hands to the right, in order to bring his shoulders 

 away from the wall, but only about a yard. I work my right 

 leg strongly, in order to carry the haunches from the right to 

 the left ; whilst my left leg receives, so to speak, the haunches, 

 which my right leg has just sent it, and throws the impulse on 

 the hand. In fact, the left leg presses the horse forward, and 

 thus prevents him from getting behind his bridle. It also 

 regulates the pace by preventing the animal from sidling off to 

 the left. If there is nothing to check the speed of the pace to 

 the side, whether at the walk, trot, or canter, the horse will 

 fatally regulate his pace, and will rush to the side in order to 

 get out of hand, that is to say, he will no longer keep on two 

 tracks. It is therefore necessary, in order for the movement 

 to be regular, that the rider can regulate the cadence at all 

 paces, and that he always keeps his legs close to the sides of 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



