VIII. 



Outdoor work. — Conditioning is not a chapter apart 

 in the education of tlie young horse; conditioning and 

 training run together and the horse acquires at the same 

 time habits of work and of obedience. It would be a 

 mistake to think that the conditioning of a horse requires 

 the jockey seat on a sanded track. Riding-hall work and 

 outdoor exercise are generally sufficient. 



When to begin. — Outside work should be begun as 

 early as possible. It is an advantage to take the horses 

 out as soon as they know how to go straight ahead and to 

 turn to the right and left. Outdoor rides, intelligently 

 conducted, "put horses into the bridle" °' and improve the 

 carriage. 



Moreover, this is a good way to quiet the animals as 

 troopers are less exacting on the road than on the riding- 

 hall track. 



Combination of riding hall and outside work. — This 

 outside work must be combined with the lessons in the 

 hall. There is no necessity of feeling compelled to follow 

 blindly a set schedule such as to work on the road for six 

 weeks and then stay inside for several months. On the 

 contrary, it is of distinct advantage to alternate the two 

 and to have at least two outdoor rides each week. How- 

 ever, the officer in charge of training must base his de- 



oTo put a young horse into his bridle is to make him take hold of his 

 bit and bear on it properly whenever he moves forward under the 

 impulse of both legs. He thus, as previously stated, produces a proper 

 tension on the reins. If a horse fails to bear on the bit and to tighten 

 the reins when the legs urge him forward he is said to be "behind the 

 bit."— The Board. 



53521°— 10 3 33 



