76 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



at an early age, providing one docs not aim at more 

 than making the horse clever and free. Do not im- 

 pose on the horse any excessive effort, and whilst 

 he should be made to respect the obstacle, it is best 

 to teach him over low but fixed jumps. 



Training in hand. — The horses having been ac- 

 customed by work on the long rein to follow their 

 riders without hesitation, we make use of it to get 

 them to jump in hand all the small natural obstacles 

 which one meets, such as ditches by the side of the 

 roads and small streams, and to descend steep slopes. 

 The instructor should not forget that his object is 

 to develop the cleverness of the young horse, that 

 this is only secured by calmness, and that calmness 

 is the result of the trainer's patience. No violent 

 methods are, therefore, employed in this work. There 

 is need, nevertheless, to take the greatest precautions, 

 that the horse does not make use of the liberty, which 

 is of necessity given him, to turn on the man and 

 strike him. 



Jumping obstacles by the horses led in hand should 

 not be considered merely as a means of arri\dng at 

 jumping when mounted, but also as an end in itself. 

 It is a method of getting over obstacles which should 

 be taught and made perfect. It is on this method 

 that a body of cavalry, as well as a single soldier, must 

 depend, when faced with a difficult piece of ground. 



Jumping on the lunging-rein. — As the horses 

 become stronger the instructor adds to these lessons, 

 in the case of each individual horse, some jumping 

 lessons on the lunge or at liberty. These exercises 

 increase the cleverness, develop the powers, improve 

 the balance, and consequently increase the confidence 

 of the young horse. 



