TI^AINING 91 



power iigainst the rider, resist him, or even r,'et away 

 from him altogether Ijy getting behind the legs. 

 Others give themselves up generously, and seem to 

 put all their power at the service of their rider. It 

 is this result, moral as well as physical, of submission 

 to the aids in the forward movement, which one should 

 seek for before everything in training. 



Speed is in no way a criterion of impulsion. Im- 

 pulsion shows itself much more by the way in which 

 the horse gives himself up to his rider, than by the 

 rapidity of his paces. A horse at the walk, trot, 

 canter, or even the fast gallop, can lack impulsion, 

 in the same way as another will show much, when 

 merely walking. 



This freedom in the forward walk should be care- 

 fully cultivated, not only during the training but also 

 during the w^hole military life of the horse. The proper 

 use of the forces, moreover, brings with it the right 

 distribution of the w^eight, i.e. balance, and conse- 

 quently mobility and handiness. 



Balance. — The muscular force and the weight of 

 the horse are the two elements which together produce 

 movement. 



It is muscular power which produces energy. The 

 body of the horse having no power of moving itself, 

 it is muscular force w^hich provokes the displacement, 

 and its employment therefore determines the good or 

 bad distribution of weight. 



The exact object of training is to control this force — 

 in the various degrees of speed and in the changes of 

 direction — in such a way as to oblige the horse to carry 

 out his rider's wishes. 



Theoretically, movement is determined by the 

 different positions the centre of gravity takes with 



