132 ORDINARY RIDING. 



ment is the end of equitation. The continual rassejnbler, 

 not only in side movements and turning, but in all movements, 

 whatever may be their combinations, is the supreme refine- 

 ment of riding — the full possession of the ideal. Thus the two 

 organisms are so combined that the man is one with his horse ; 

 the former perceives the efforts of the latter so directly and 

 rapidly that each action of the man responds so surely and 

 rapidly to a corresponding action of the horse, that the 

 animal expects it, and lends himself to it instantaneously. 

 Then the horse has only reflex actions. The only brain he 

 has is that of his rider. I am right in saying that it is the 

 ideal of which we dream. 



How can we obtain this tact, this keenness of perception, 

 this refined and rapid feeling of all the efforts of the horse 

 in every degree, preparing the efforts which are going to 

 follow ? This cannot be taught in a book. For these faculties 

 we require practice, work, and, above all things, natural 

 aptitude and love for horses. 



By his seat and legs the rider ought to feel with absolute 

 certainty everything that goes on under him, as for instance, 

 if the hocks are brought more or less under the centre, or if 

 they remain behind ; what legs are raised, and to what height, 

 and if the croup is going to deviate from the straight line. 



By his hands and legs, helped by his eyes, the rider ought 

 to be able to feel the actions and above all things the tenden- 

 cies of the jaw, head, neck, and shoulders. As the forehand 

 begins the movements desired by the animal, we can say that 

 " the hand ought to feel the ideas of the horse.""^ 



* High school work naturally demands very complicated efforts wliich 

 the rider ought to feel on account of the precision which it requires. 



The most difficult effort to perceive is that which is called "the magpie 

 f jump," which the horse makes by simultaneously placing his two hind feet on 

 the ground, so as to relieve himself. When the movement is softly made and 

 the pasterns bend, it is difficult to catch. However, if we allow a horse to con- 

 tract this habit, he will lose all regularity of action. 



