MODERN RIDING. 123 



The perfection of the Trot consists ; first, 

 in its suppleness, which gives the horse a free 

 use and extension of his limbs, either on 

 straight lines or circles ; next in its union, by 

 which the labour is more equally distributed, 

 for a little observation points out, that the 

 horse's fore legs have a greater portion to 

 sustain than the hind, especially when the 

 horse is disunited, or, what is termed, on the 

 shoulders; then in its action, which should 

 be true and equal, the liberty of the fore 

 quarters not exceeding the hind, nor the hind 

 the fore, — the knee up, the haunches bent, 

 springy and pliant, the step measuring exact 

 distances, marking a regular time of one, 

 two, the measure of which depends on the 

 animation, restriction, or rapidity of the ac- 

 tion. By these qualities, the horse is capa- 

 citated to work freely to right or left, on 

 circles, without falsifying his step, or break- 

 ing his time. 



In the trot, as in the gallop, the horse leads 

 with a foot, either right or left, by which the 

 leading side is a little more advanced than 



