horses as well as of men — they would not be able to stand it, and would break down. But if the effort required for the gradual exercises is proportionate to the increase of muscular power, the work — no matter how severe it may be — will be comparatively easy, and even healthy.^[1]

It is true that many horses have been ruined by high-school work ; but only because the work was badly carried out, or because the preliminary training was insufficient. Riding, like other sciences, has its charlatans and its empirics. When a horse has been methodically broken, the practice of all the exercises through which he has gone, so far from ruining him, will only strengthen him.

With respect to horsemen who turn up their noses at high-school riding, and speak of it with contempt, I content myself with reminding them of the fable of the fox and the grapes.

THE SPANISH WALK.

A horse is said to do the Spanish walk,^[2] when he raises his fore legs one after another, by carrying them forward and extending them.

The principal thing to observe is the way in which a horse puts his foot on the ground ; for although it is easy to make him raise his legs, it is very difficult to make him put them down properly.

The breaker ought to begin this work on foot, while standing at the left shoulder of the horse and on the left track, in which