MODERN RIDING. 



141 



When the horse leads with the proper leg, 

 the hand should resume its usual position, the 

 rider observing to make the horse bend a 

 little inwards, by shortening the inward rein. 

 The fingers should be softened, if necessary, 

 to let the horse advance, but the hand kept 

 up, and every cadence felt of the fore feet 

 coming to the ground. 



Beginners cannot be expected at first to 

 know when the horse takes the proper leg : 

 practice alone must give them that know- 

 ledge. If the rider, however, take the proper 

 position, and if the horse goes off smoothly, 

 and continue the croupe in, he may reason- 

 ably suppose him right ; but on the contrary, 

 if the horse appear to resist these aids, and 

 the croupe be out and the shoulders in, he 

 will, most likely, be false. 



It is natural with beginners, to suppose that 

 the faster they ride, the better they ride ; but, 

 however, gratifying the riding fast may be, 

 there is more skill displayed in keeping up 



