211 



nished with good sense and sound reasoning upon his subject, that he 

 had nothing extraneous to offer. 



" No bits should be used till the riders are firm, and the Horses bend 

 well to right and left; and then always with the greatest care and gentle- 

 ness. Note always, that I have in view, a military school, and conse- 

 quently, on account of its necessary hurry, and number of scholars, both 

 men and Horses are not the most exact and delicate ; the nature of it will 

 not admit of their being so. The silly custom of using strong bits, is, 

 in all good schools, with reason, laid aside, as it should be, likewise, in 

 military riding. They serve to harden, as much the hand of the rider, 

 as the mouth of the Horse, both which becoming, every day, more and 

 more insensible together, nothing can be expected but a most unfeel-- 

 ing callousness, both in one and the other. Some Horses, when the bit 

 is first put into their mouths, if great care be not taken, will put their 

 heads very low. With such, raise your right hand, with the bridoon in 

 it, and play at the same time, with the bit in the left hand, giving and 

 taking. A strong bit, indeed, will flatter an ignorant hand just at first; 

 but it will never any other, nor even an ignorant one, for any time toge- 

 ther, for the Horse's mouth will soon grow callous to it, and unfeeling, 

 and the hand the same. 



" Nothing is more ungraceful in itself, more detrimental to a man's 

 seat, or more destructive to the sensibility of a Horse's sides, than a con- 

 tinual wriggling unsettledness in a Horseman's legs, which prevents the 

 Horse from ever going a moment together true, steady, or determined. 

 It is impossible, on the whole, for a man to be too firm, settled, and 

 gentle. 



" A Horse should never be turned, without first moving a step for- 

 ward. 



" The common method that is used of forcing a Horse sideways, is 

 a most glaring absurdity, and very hurtfiil to the animal in its conse- 

 quences ; for instead of suppling him, it obliges him to stiffen and de- 

 fend himself, and oflen makes a creature, that is naturally benevolent, 

 a restiff, frightened, and vicious man-hater for ever. 



" Horsesshould be accustomed to swim, which often may be necessary 

 on service; and if the men and Horses both are not used to it, both may 



2 e2 be 



