osition of
the body while trotting: in this pace, ordinary riders frequently rise
to the left, which is a very bad practice, and must positively be
avoided. The lady should also take care not to raise herself too high;
the closer she maintains her seat, consistently with her own comfort,
the better.

THE CANTER.

The whole of the exercises on circles should next be performed in a
canter; which may be commenced from a short but animated trot, a walk,
or even a stop. If the horse be well trained, a slight pressure of the
whip and leg, and an elevation of the horse's head, by means of the
reins, will make him strike into a canter. Should he misunderstand, or
disobey these indications of the rider's will, by merely increasing his
walk or trot, or going into the trot from a walk, as the case may be, he
is to be pressed forward on the bit by an increased animation of the leg
and whip;--the reins, at the same time, being held more firmly, in order
to restrain him from advancing too rapidly to bring his haunches well
under him; for the support of which, in this position, he will keep both
his hind feet for a moment on the ground, while he commences the canter
by raising his fore feet together.

[Illustration]

The canter is by far the most elegant and agreeable of all the paces,
when properly performed by the horse and rider: its perfection consists
in its union and animation, rather than its speed. It is usual with
learners who practise without a master, to begin the canter previously
to the trot; but we are supported by good authority in recommending,
that the lady should first practise the trot, as it is certainly much
better calculated to strengthen and confirm her in the balance, seat &c.
than the canter.

The lady is advised, at this stage of her progress, to practise the
paces, alternately, in the various combinations of the figures we have
described; performing her aids with greater power and accuracy in turning
and working in circles, when trotting or cantering, than when walking.
She should also perfect herself in her aids, the correspondence, and
balance, by alternately increasing and diminishing the speed in each
pace, until she attain a perfect mastery over herself and her horse, and
can not only make him work in what direction, and at what pace, but,
also, at what degree of speed in each pace, she pleases.

The horse ought to lead with the right foot: should he strike off with
the left, the rider m