12 ' CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



some instructors, they only give but moderate results, 

 but when employed correctly they transform into 

 horsemen happily and very quickly, even those with 

 the least natural aptitude. Taken as a whole, the 

 suppling exercises have a triple effect. They serve 

 to obtain — 



(1) General decontraction. 



(2) The independence of the aids. 



(3) Regularity of position. 



The instructor groups and utilizes the suppling 

 exercises which seem to him the best to attain the 

 end he has in view. 



In the first two cases the suppling exercises affect 

 all the men in the ride, since the instructor has a 

 uniform object in view. In the last case it is right, 

 on the contrary, to j)rescribe to each horseman the 

 special exercise Avhich he should do. 



One should notice, moreover, that certain of these 

 movements are contrary to one another, and that it 

 is necessary when employing them to know exactly 

 the end one wishes to attain, e.g. the raising of the 

 thighs, particularly favourable to the acquisition of 

 the seat, evidently counteracts the benefit of the 

 revolving of the thigh, intended to put it on the flat 

 side, and to cause the leg to drop. At the end of a 

 few weeks of well-regulated instruction, confidence is 

 established, the contractions diminish, the riders 

 commence to find and keep the bottom of the saddle, 

 their joints acquire freedom, and in consequence 

 they obtain greater control over their movements. 

 It is then time to consider the question of horse 

 control and to lay down the principle governing it. 



