224 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



(4) Is the rider rounding his entire back instead of giving at the 

 waist only? 



(5) Are the backs of the hands out? 



(6) Are the hands separated about 6 inches? 



(7) Has the rider a correct position of the upper and forearm ? 



(8) Has the rider a light feel of the horse's mouth ? 



(9) Is the rider's head erect, eyes looking to the front, and not down ? 



In the adjustment of the bridle many riders, when looking to see if 

 the bit clears the "tusk," look at the lower tusk. This is wrong; look 

 and see that the bit clears the upper tusk. The bits must not be too 

 low. If the bit clears the upper tusk and does not pull the corners of 

 the mouth, the rider has his bit adjusted. 



fathering: The leg pressure acts in a "vibratory or pulsating" man- 

 ner — the action being from rear to front. Gathering causes the horse 

 to get his haunches under him ready to move out. The rider "drives 

 the haunches under" by leg action and prevents him moving forward 

 by the pressure on the bit. The horse is between two forces — the 

 legs pushing him forward, and the bit pressure preventing him actually 

 moving forward. The action resembles a river being dammed — the 

 dam is the bit, the current the leg action. 



Move forward: When we release the pressure on the rein and 

 increase the action of the legs, the horse has received the "forward 

 aids." The action in this case is to break the dam and allow the current 

 to act. Remember, if the leg action is not "vibratory or pulsating," 

 the aid has not been given but the rider has merely tightened his grip. 

 The leg action is from "rear to front," the calf not going back more than 

 one-half inch under ordinary circumstances. Should it be necessary 

 to increase the action aid develops into "taps" ; should further increase 

 be necessary, the toe is turned slightly out and the spur begins to act. 

 With little training most horses will answer the aid applied by calf 

 action alone. 



The subject of the accord of the aids can not be dealt with' too 

 strongly. To illustrate : Suppose the rider gives the aids to move 

 forward, the horse answers it and the rider loses his balance. To 

 save himself the rider "hangs" on to the reins. What has the rider 

 done? He has given the aids to move forward, then immediately 

 applied the aid to stop. 



Remember in equitation you must "remake" yourself. For in- 

 stance, when a man falls he will naturally use his hands and arms to 

 save himself. In equitation this is impossible. Your hands must not 

 act; your legs and balance are what count. For illustration, suppose 

 a horse rears and the rider loses his balance ; if he pulls on the reins, 

 he is pulling the horse over backward, the worst thing he could do. 

 The rider must learn to tighten his grip by his legs. The hands must 

 never be used to hold on by. 



