CHAP. XVII.Of the Mezair.
TheGallop is the Foundation of theTerre-a-Terre; for in these two Motions the Principle of the Action is the same, since theTerre-a-Terreis only a shorten'd Gallop, with the Croupein, and the Haunches following in a close and quick Time.
TheMezair is higher than the Action ofTerre-a-Terre, and lower than that ofCurvets; we may therefore conclude, that theTerre-a-Terre, is the Foundation of the Mezair, as well as ofCurvets.—In theTerre-a-Terre, the Horse should be moretogetherthan in the Gallop, that he may mark hisTimeorCadencemore distinctly; although in a trueTerre-a-Terre, there are no Times to be mark'd, for it is rather a gliding of the Haunches, which comes from the natural Springs in the Limbs of the Horse.
I havesaid, that theTerre-a-Terreis the Foundation of theMezair; in effect, the higher you raise the Fore-parts of the Horse, the slower and more distinct his Action will be, and by making him beat and mark the Time with his Hind-feet, instead of gliding them along as in theTerre-a-Terre, you put him to theMezair, orHalf-curvets.
Whena Horse worksTerre-a-Terre, he always ought, the same as in theGallop, to lead with the Legs that are within the Volte, his two Fore-feet being in the Air, and the Moment that they are coming down, his two Hind-feet following.
TheAction of the Gallop is always one, two, three, and four; theTerre-a-Terreconsists only of two Lines, one, two.—The Action is like that ofCurvets, except that it is more under the Horse; that is, he bends his Haunches more, and moves them quicker and closer than in Curvets.
Towork a HorseTerre-a-Terreupon large Circles, take care to keep your Body strait, steady and true in the Saddle, without leaning to one side or the other.—Lean upon the outward Stirrup, and keep your outward Leg nearer the Side of the Horse than the other Leg, taking care to do it so as not to let it be perceived.—If you go to the Right, keep your Bridle-hand a little on the Outside of the Horse's Neck, turning your little finger up, without turning your Nails at the same time; although if need be you must turn them, in order to make the inner Rein work which passes over the Little-finger.—Keep your Arms and Elbows to your Hips, by this means you will assure and confine your Hands, which ought to accompany, and, if I may so say, run along the Line of the Circle with the Horse.
IntheMezair, use the same Aids as in working uponCurvets.—Give the Aids of the Legs with Delicacy, and no stronger than is just necessary to carry your Horse forward.—Remember when you close your Legs to make him go forward, to press with the Outward in such a degree as to keep your Horse confin'd; and to assist the other in driving him forward; it is not necessary to lay so much Stress on the inner Leg, because that serves only to guide the Horse, and make him cover and embrace the Ground that lays before him.