important to make the horse, whenever we like, exert himself to the utmost at his trot.

If a horse starts into the canter when we want him to do the fast trot, we can at first try gentleness in order to correct this habit, which is only idleness. We can stop him and pat him on the neck, to reassure and calm him, and then put him again into the trot. This plan generally succeeds with impetuous horses, but it has no good effect on lazy ones, with which we should do just the contrary. When an animal breaks into the canter to avoid the fast trot, we should vigorously push him forward into the gallop, and should keep him at it for a certain distance, say for 500 or 600 yards, which is to be the punishment of his resistance and laziness. After a few experiences of this kind he will perceive that, so far from obtaining relief by breaking into the canter from the trot, he lets himself in for a severe and trying pace. This plan is within the reach of everyone. There is another which I can recommend, but which requires a greater knowledge of riding.

When the horse of his own accord breaks into the canter, in order to escape from the fast trot which his rider wants him to do, he naturally leads with the easier leg of the two. I have already said that every horse has one side more easy than the other. We can therefore thwart him in the pace he has taken by pressing him forward at the canter, while making the other leg lead ; for instance, with the right leg if he has of his own accord struck off with the left leg. We will then employ the near snaffle rein, in order to keep back the left shoulder, which takes the lead, and the left leg to press the haunches to the right.^[1]

We should apply the opposite " aids " if the horse leads with the right fore leg. It is self-evident that this plan, like the