As to the character of the trot, when we urge the horse to proceed
faster than he can by moving one leg after the other in the walk, we
oblige him to take up two at a time in the trot. Here the off fore-foot
and the near hind-foot give one beat; and the near fore-foot and the
off hind-foot give another; so that there are two legs crosswise
off the ground, and two legs on; the beats being sharp and quick, in
proportion to the degree of animation and extension.
The perfection of the trot consists in its suppleness, giving the horse
a free use of his limbs; in its union, distributing his labour more
equally, his fore legs having more to sustain than the hind, especially
when he is disunited, or on the shoulders; and in its action, which
should be true and equal, the liberty of the fore-quarters not
exceeding the hind, nor the hind the fore--the knee being up, the
haunches bent, springy, and pliant, the step measuring exact distances,
and marking a regular time. In the trot, there is a leading foot,
either right or left, by which the corresponding side is a little more
advanced than the other. This leading with either foot is valuable, as,
in horses that have not been thus suppled, if chance or fatigue makes
them change their leg for that which they are not accustomed to, the
action is stiff, confined, and irregular.
_Kinds of Trot._
There are three kinds of trot--the extended, the supple, and the even.
In the extended trot, the horse steps out without retaining himself,
being quite straight, and going directly forwards.
In the supple trot, at every motion he bends and plays the joints of
his shoulders, knees, and feet.
In the even trot, he makes all his limbs and joints move so equally and
exactly, that his limbs never cover more ground one than the other, nor
at one time more than at another.
These three kinds of trot depend upon each other. We cannot pass
a horse to the supple trot without having first worked him to the
extended trot; and we can never arrive at the even and equal trot
without having practised the supple. To pass from the extended to the
supple trot, the horse must be gently and by degrees held in. When, by
exercise, he has attained sufficient suppleness to manage his limbs
readily, he must insensibly be held in more and more, till he is led to
the equal trot.
_The Trot in particular._
In performance the rider must apply, for an instant, both legs to his
horse’s sides; and at the same time raise the fore hand by drawing the
lower finger on each side rather upwards and towards the body, avoiding
all jerks or sudden motions.
During the trot he must sit close to the saddle, preserving his seat by
the balance of his body, and not by the pressure of the knees; he must
neither rise nor stand in the stirrups; his body must incline a little
backwards; the whole figure must partake of and accompany the movements
of the horse; and he must keep the hands up in their proper situation,
steady and pliant, preserving a due correspondence, and just appuy. If
the action be too rapid, it must be checked by strengthening the hand.
If the action be too slow, it may be quickened by easing the fingers,
and giving more animation.
To give more animation, and encourage the horse to put his foot out
freely, the rider must support his fore hand up, and his haunches
under, by a touch of the fingers, the excitement of the tongue, the
switch of the whip, or the application of the legs, varied so as not to
lose their effect. If the action be not sufficiently united, that also
must be corrected.
To unite the horse, the reins must be collected, and the head raised.
By bringing his haunches under him, he may be pressed up to the bridle
by the aid of the legs; care being taken that this is not done hastily
or violently. He must not, however, be confined in the hand, in
expectation of raising him, and fixing his head in a proper place, as
by this means his bars and mouth would soon grow callous.
The most certain sign of a horse’s trotting well is, that when, in his
trot, the rider presses him a little, he offers to gallop. If the horse
gallop when he ought not, the waist should be pushed forwards toward
the pommel of the saddle, and a bend or hollow at the same time be made
in the loins.
_Turns, Stops, &c. in the Trot._
As to turns, seeing that the operations directed to be performed at
the walk are to be practised in the trot, nothing further need be said
of them. As stops are required to coincide with cadences, it must be
observed, that the first part of the cadence in the trot is performed
by the two feet that lead; and that the conclusion of the cadence is
performed by the two feet that follow, and this should complete the
stop. The rider should occasionally alter the measure of the action, by
strengthening the hand, and at the same time keeping up a sufficient
degree of animation to prevent the horse from stopping. He may then
give him liberty, and proceed with the same spirit as before. He may
make a stop; and may even rein him back two or three steps; in both
cases keeping him so united and animated that the instant the hand
gives him liberty he advances as rapidly as before. (Plate XXXIX. fig
1.)