TRAINING 93 



brought. At first he will therefore give the horse 

 mueh hberty, beeause in restraining his movements he 

 prevents him from recovering this bahxnee, which is 

 indispensable to the proper execution of the movement. 



The more steady, moderate, and conciliatory the 

 rider is in his actions, the more confidence the horse 

 will gain, and the sooner he will recover his balance. 

 As the training progresses, the number of resistances 

 diminishes : the horse, obedient to the aids, will make 

 better use of his forces and distribute his weight 

 better : the rider will then be able, without difTiculty, 

 to place him in the proper position for the movement 

 he wishes. 



Locomotion. — The order in which the horse moves 

 his limbs in the different movements, and in the 

 various paces, constitutes the object of the study of 

 the laws of locomotion. 



In the High School of riding the application of 

 certain of these rules will bring good results ; in 

 secondary equitation one must take a larger view of the 

 employment of the horse, so as not to enter on a course 

 of little practical value, and likely to aggravate the 

 difTiculties. 



The rider has therefore no other care than to give 

 the horse the position, which should precede the 

 execution of each movement, and give him time, of 

 his own accord, to suitably place his limbs. 



The role and the position of the head in move- 

 ment. — When the horse disposes of all his natural 

 means suitable for the execution of his movements, he 

 makes use of his head and neck as a balancing pole, 

 with the aid of which he balances his forces, or, at any 

 rate, modifies their employment. If he wishes to go 

 forward, he stretches out his neck so as to draw the 



