30 EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 



the degree of lightness corresponds to the more or less 

 finished balance. 



Therefore in the first lesson there should be no anxiety 

 about lightness, for, as we have just remarked, it will be a 

 natural result of training. If a horse is not easily con- 

 trolled by the legs, is not well suppled in the shoulders, 

 and does not know how to properly employ his haunches 

 he can not be reallj^ light. 



Not until later can perfect balance (or lightness, if you 

 please) be obtained and then only by coordinating the 

 different results of training. 



The principle of constant tension on the reins. — Although 

 the instructor during the first weeks of training need not 

 concern himself with the lightness of the horse, he must 

 urge the troopers to keep a constant light tension (feel) on 

 the reins. At first the trooper must do the work — that is, 

 must tighten the reins — but later the horse itself, having 

 become accustomed to the pressure of the bit and having 

 always present the idea of going straight ahead, will, of its 

 own accord, keep the reins taut. 



It is important to distinguish between pulling on the 

 reins and the principle of keeping a constant tension on the 

 reins. A hand too rigidly fixed, with fingers too firmly 

 clasped, will oppose the free play of the neck and will be 

 contrary to the principle just stated. Therefore in the 

 leg lesson, when forcing the horse straight ahead, the 

 hand must not oppose the stretching of the neck; on the 

 contrar}' , the fingers should be slightly opened up so that 

 nothing can clash with the animal's intention to obey the 

 aids. 



