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to the right and to the left, while always keeping him along the wall.
CHANGES OF LEG.
When a horse at the canter leads equally well with both legs, it is necessary that the rider should make him strike off with whichever leg he likes. He should also know how to make the horse change his leg, namely, to pass from one canter into the other canter without stopping. This is not high school work, but belongs to ordinary riding, whether practised in the school or outside.
If, for example, we are at the canter with the horse's near fore leading, and we wish to turn to the right, it is impossible to make this change of direction without danger. In fact, the near leg, which is in advance, will cross the off leg, and the horse will probably fall, in which case the rider will be almost certain to blame the horse ; but the fault is his own.[1]
If, when cantering with the near fore leading, we wish to turn to the right, while maintaining the same pace, we should first of all make the horse change his leg, in which case the turning movement will be made easily and without danger. In fact, the horse will have his head and body bent towards the side to which he is turning. Further, it is the forward leg which covers the ground of the side to which the change of direction is being made.[2]
A horse which crosses his legs may escape falling, but only if he is lucky.
If a horse which is cantering with the near fore, falls on being turned to the right, he does so because he is abruptly put into the position for the canter to the right. In high school riding we succeed very well in turning to the right, while our horse canters with the near fore. To do this we should make a large circle when turning, should always keep the horse in the position of the canter to the left, and should even exaggerate this position, by using the right leg to push the croup a little more to the left. It is easier to change the leg. ↩︎
With respect to changes of direction, I give the following advice : always enlarge the circle as much as possible ; slacken the speed a little when turning ; and if not quite certain of the change of leg — which is difficult in proportion to the speed — it is best before turning to make the horse change into the trot and not to put him into the canter again until he has completed the turn. ↩︎