THE HACK. 175 



The impetuous horse is one which wishes only to go 

 forward, and in consequence of his being well balanced and 

 having plenty of natural energy, he goes freely up to his 

 bridle. True balance and natural energy are innate qualities 

 in him, because they are conditions of his being : this in- 

 cludes everything. Equitation cannot exist without energy. 

 In the horse I speak of, the energy is already made, and he 

 gives it to his rider. It is easier, as I have said, to profit by 

 impulse than to create it. The fault of being behind the bit 

 is the stumbling block in every kind of riding, and the 

 natural disposition of an impetuous horse is directly opposed 

 to this tendency. 



In every case, no matter what happens, a forward move- 

 ment is the least displacing one for the rider. The fact of 

 Arab horses being hot, generally makes them easy and 

 agreeable to ride. These animals canter high, and always 

 bring the hocks well under the body. 



For the above reasons I am right in saying that every horse 

 which is not hot is fit only to be put between the shafts. 



As a rule, people are afraid of an impetuous horse, and 

 they are wrong ; because he is the only one which will be 

 faithful, and will not do them a bad turn. He is the only 

 animal which, by reason of his constant desire to go forward, 

 is plucky even in his defences. 



The sluggish horse, which is generally preferred, can 

 neither be reliable nor plucky. In every case, so far from 

 giving himself up to his rider, he continually restrains him- 

 self, and is always ready to keep behind the bit, which, in my 

 eyes, is the worst of all faults. He thinks only of returning 

 to his stable,* and tries to take advantage of every chance to 



* The tendency of every horse, no matter how impetuous he may be, is to 

 return to the stable quicker than he left it. 



In order that the rider may not be obliged to come back quicker than he went 

 out, I advise him to begin his ride at a fast pace, so as to quieten the animal 

 down, which is most important later on for preventing him jibbing, shying, 



