THE TROT.
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.)