22 SYSTEM FOE TEAINmG CAVALRY HOESES. 



greatly faciliate bringing tlie horse on, and is be- 

 lieved to be almost essential. 



ON THE BIT. 

 Preparatory Lesson. 



Befoee commencing the bending lessons, it is well 

 to give the horse a preparatory one of obedience, and 

 to make him sensible of the power that man has over 

 him. This first act of submission, which may ap- 

 pear of but slight importance, will prove of great 

 service ; it makes the horse quiet, and gives him con- 

 fidence, and gives the man such ascendency as to 

 prevent the horse at the outset from resisting the 

 means employed to bring him under control. Two 

 lessons of half an hour each will suffice to obtain 

 this first act of obedience from the horse. 



Go up to him, pat him on the neck, and speak to 

 him ; then taking the bit-reins at a few inches from 

 the rings with the left hand, place ^^ourself so as to 

 offer as much resistance as possible to the horse 

 when he tries to break away ; take the whip in the 

 full of the right hand, with the point down, raise it 

 quietly and tap the horse on the chest, on which he 

 will naturally try to escape from the punishment, 

 and rein back to avoid the whip ; follow the horse 

 whilst backing, pulling at the same time against 

 him, but without discontinuing the application of the 



