presses upon the neck, and bends his head in the direction he is to move.

Carrying the curb-reins in the right hand and those of the snaffle in the left, the change of direction to the left will be made in a similar manner.

The horse will be accustomed to be brought to a stop from the walk by the rider raising the hand and leaning back in the seat, and gently pressing with the legs to bring under the forces of the croup.

The horse standing, and in equilibrium, the rider will induce him to bend his head and neck, first to one side and then to the other, by the vibratory motion of the direct curb-rein. Both legs will be kept close to the sides of the horse to keep him steady, the opposite leg being

rather closer to overcome resistance and to prevent a movement of the croup against it. The horse will not be permitted to carry back his head, at will, from the bent posture; but the rider will bring it back into position by the rein opposed to that by which the movement was begun.

It only remains, for the present, that the horse should be taught to bend the croup, at the application of the heel, sufficiently to put him into position for the gallop. He will first be made to take a step with the hind-legs to the right by the application of the left leg, the right rein playing with the mouth to remove the opposition of the right shoulder. By inverse means the croup will be moved a step to the left. In all movements of the croup the legs should

be held close to the horse, so that the

action produced by the one

may be

readily checked by the other.

THE WALK AND THE TROT.

It is not necessary, nor is it desirable, that the tight grip of the thighs should be maintained while at the walk. The gait is so smooth that the weight and the balance will serve to keep the rider in his seat, and the knees being in position the thighs may instantaneously take their hold in case of a sudden start of the horse. But this ease should never degenerate into negligence, and as a horse is more apt to stumble at a walk than at a quicker

gait, the rider must never permit his attention to be taken from his horse. The horse should be kept constantly in hand, particularly after any great exertion that has called upon his strength, for he is much less able to recover from a mistake when he is tired, and he feels the fatigue less when he is kept roused. In going down-hill he must have liberty enough to permit his body conforming to the slope of the ground, so that he may extend his step safely.

For the trot the horse must be kept level and light, between the application of the hand and legs. The speed will be restrained by the first or augmented by the latter, at the will of the rider, whose efforts should be so directed as to give a regularly-cadenced gait of equal action,

in the highest equilibrium possible. The height and brilliancy of movement in the trot may be governed by the application of first the one and then the other spur, supported by the rein of the same side, as the opposite fore-leg of the horse is raised to step off. In this way it may be developed into the Spanish trot of the manège.

When the increased action of the trot takes place under the horse, it is called the passage; but when the fore-hand is lightened and the action of the fore-legs is out forward, the movement is called the Spanish trot. In both cases the diagonal legs move together, and there is a momentary rest at each stride, produced by the pull of the rein on the side of the hind-leg that is in action.