^ 24 SYSTEM FOR TEAENING CAVALRY HORSES. 



The balance of the horse's body and his lightness 

 in hand depend on the proper carriage of the head 

 and neck, and to these two points we must first and 

 chiefly direct our attention. They should always pre- 

 cede and prepare the horse by their attitude for every 

 movement about to be executed, and the rider has no 

 power over the animal until he has rendered both 

 these points susceptible of every impulse communi- 

 cated by him. It stands to reason that if they do not 

 lead in all turns and changes of hand, &c, &c., if in 

 circling they are not bent to the circle, if in reining 

 back the head is not brought home, if their carriage 

 is not. always in keeping with the different paces, the 

 horse may execute the movements required of him or 

 not, as he pleases, for his resources are still at his own 

 disposal. 



A young horse generally attempts to resist the bit, 

 either by bending his neck to one side or other, set- 

 ting his jaw against it, carrying his nose high up, or 

 low down. We must, therefore, render him manage- 

 able by bending him to the right, left, and "up and 

 down," that is, teaching him to bring his head home, 

 and to arch his neck on the reins being felt ; against 

 this last bend the horse generally defends himself 

 most successfully, by setting his under-jaw, or clos- 

 ing it firmly on the bit, and, as nothing can be done 

 with him until he has been taught to yield to the 

 hand, we must begin our work with the following 

 bending lessons, and we shall find that, in a short 



