24 ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



One should also practise opening the thighs when 

 there is an inclination to grip, so as to bring the muscles 

 under control of the will, and prevent involuntary 

 contractions. Any one who aspires to fine horseman- 

 ship should continually practise keeping the muscles 

 relaxed, whether -on horseback or not, and the best 

 opportunity for developing this control is when feehng 

 angry, nervous or determined. 



The turning in and out of the knees is an exercise 

 strongly recommended by Baucher. The thighs and 

 knees should be forced slowly outwards, away from the 

 saddle, and then be slowly brought back with an 

 inward turning of the knees, so that the inside of the 

 thighs comes into close contact with the saddle. A more 

 delicate exercise is to roll the knees from the front 

 half of the sides to the back halves ; first easing the 

 reins as the knees turn out and the calves close in, and 

 then reversing the action of the hands, so as to cause 

 the horse to raise his actions instead of increasing 

 his pace. This is one of the " fine " aids, and is 

 sufficient to collect and animate a highly trained 

 horse. 



Mr. Adams very rightly says that although fine 

 horsemanship is marked by ease and grace it must not 

 be imagined that these qualities can be obtained without 

 difficulty, every one must go through a period in which 

 stiffness and formality are noticeable, muscles have to 

 be formed, strengthened, and at last suppled. Success 

 in horsemanship^ as in any other art, can only be secured 

 at the cost of a certain amount of discomfort, and 

 perhaps ridicule from the unambitious, but as pro- 

 ficiency is attained, stiffness changes into ease and 

 formality into gracefulness. A good horseman how- 

 ever, adapts his position to the degree of collection 



