under the centre. To sum up : all four legs should be raised high and in cadence, so that the horse is suspended in the air from one diagonal to the other. This natural passage, which is graceful and brilliant, ought also to be slow, and as high as possible.^[1]

We should bear in mind that no horse will do the passage of his own accord ; for it can be obtained only by teaching. Some horses can be very easily taught the passage, especially those which have slow paces and bend their knees ; that is to say, those which have high action before and behind, and bend their knees and hocks—in a word, slow and high action.

A horse which goes stiffly, without bending the knees or hocks, is not fit for this movement. I will not go so far as to say that he cannot be taught it, but supposing that he is made to do it, he moves ungracefully, because he looks stiff, on account of dragging his feet.

It is extremely difficult to explain how the natural passage is obtained. The first thing is to rassembler the horse, without doing which the passage is not possible ; but collecting him is not enough, for he has also to be taught to passage.

Having perfectly collected him, we ought to use the spur, in order to obtain the raising of the legs, which gives the passage.

While riding the horse at a well-balanced walk, I make him trot, by strongly closing my legs, while keeping him well in