m CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



the trot, and later on in passing from a stationary 

 position to the trot. 



4. Assist the action of the legs by accompanying 

 it, if necessary, with a click of the tongue, or with 

 touches of the whij) on the shoulder. This last recom- 

 mendation is especially relevant to the forward move- 

 ment Avhen the lesson is given in the school ; when out 

 of doors, especially when walking behind an instructor, 

 the young horse has a natural tendency to go forward 

 in following him, and this is another reason in favour 

 of commencing outdoor work as early as possible. 



In the forward movement the reins should be 

 stretched. If this is not the case, the horse, instead of 

 being collected, wobbles about, and the rider has no 

 230wer to direct him. 



It is easy to keep the reins stretched in the case of 

 fairly energetic horses with a natural desire to go 

 forward ; the rider has merely to fix the hands, and 

 without checking the horse's pace, to moderate little 

 by little his keenness. It is more difficult to teach 

 the habit of feeling the hand to young horses just up 

 from grass, underbred, and without vigour. These 

 as a rule only stretch the reins to get their heads carried 

 when they are tired. With this kind of horse, it is at 

 first the rider who must search for the horse's mouth. 

 Later on, when work has strengthened the horse, 

 it will be he, who, having formed the habit of feeling 

 the bit, will, when solicited by the pressure of the legs, 

 search in his turn to stretch the reins. If he obeys the 

 pressure of the legs, or merely a touch of the heels, 

 the work on a straight line at the walk, trot, or gallop, 

 will bring him insensibly to take the desired feeling 

 on the hand ; it is then for the rider not to discourage 

 him by inappropriate severity ; a fixed hand with 



