42 SYSTEM FOK TEAINING CAVALRY HOKSES. 



saiy that tlie impulsive and controlling powers eman- 

 ating from the rider be in perfect harmony. 



Suppose you require a power equal to twenty 

 pounds to move the horse forward, of which fifteen 

 pounds for the impulsive power and five pounds to 

 keep the horse reined in ; if the legs communicate a 

 greater impulse, without the hand augments the resist- 

 ance in proportion, it is evident that what is in excess 

 will be thrown on the forehand, and then the horse 

 is no longer light in hand ; if, on the contrary, the 

 hand seizes on too large a share (or in other words, is 

 too heavy), it w411 impede the horse in his forward 

 course, slacken the jDace, and interfere with his carriage. 



This goes far to show how hand and leg must work 

 together from the beginning, though of course in a 

 difi*erent degree, according to the horse. 



The Trot. — A horse trots when he raises the " off 

 fore and the near hind leg" or " near fore and off 

 hind" from the ground at the same time. Those 

 paces at which the horse is most easily balanced 

 must precede those in which it is more difiicult to 

 retain him in " equilibrium ;" therefore, after the 

 " Walk," begin with a steady collected "Trot." 



It is necessary, in order to make the horse handy, 

 to exercise him at "Trotting out," but it is not 

 enough that he should trot fast ; the quickness of 

 the pace should not detract from his lightness in 

 hand, or the ease with which he should be capable 

 of answering all indications of the hand and leg. 



