THE OBJECT OF BREAKING 73 



extent. It is a pace which the horse ought to be able 

 to keep up for a long time without fatigue, and he 

 should be taught it early in his training, but on account 

 of the mechanism and the power of this pace, one 

 should only demand it, out of doors, on very good 

 going. If good going is not available, it is preferable, 

 until the horse is more advanced in condition, to canter 

 him only in the school. 



Out of doors there is no question of carefully pre- 

 pared starts in the canter ; the instructor proceeds 

 out of doors, as in the school, by upsetting the balance, 

 and regulates the duration of the periods of cantering 

 according to the progress of the horse's work, and his 

 state of condition. At first avoid, under pretext of 

 regulating the paces, entering into a conflict which is 

 harmful to the mouth of the young horse, and likely 

 to break his paces, or destroy his natural impulsion. 

 During the whole of this part of the work, the principal 

 aim of which is physical development and the giving 

 of confidence, the rider plays to some extent a 2:)assive 

 role, and makes every concession which will not have 

 a bad effect on the health or character of the horse. 



Opposition of the young horse. — When dealing 

 with these a very great difference should be made 

 between the manifestations of stubbornness or bad 

 temper, and bounds which result from lightheartedness. 



If it is indispensable to make a point of defeating 

 the first named, from the commencement, it is equally 

 a mistake to punish a young horse for shying. When 

 the rider feels the horse ready for a fling, he should 

 close in his thighs and legs, drop his hands, close the 

 fingers on the reins and wait. 



In the same way when the young horse gets out 

 of hand, rushes forward, or throws himself to one side, 



