08 CA VALE Y HOR SEM ANSHIP 



arise cither from physical defects, or from nervousness, 

 caused by ill-advised or clumsily made demands. The 

 principal seats of contraction are the quarters, the 

 spine, the shoulders, and the mouth. Whether the 

 cause of these resistances is moral or physical, it is by a 

 rational course of exercises, directed towards different 

 parts of the horse's body, that one succeeds in suppling 

 and strengthening the joints and muscles. Certain 

 movements more especially adapt themselves to the 

 exercise of these different parts, and the instructor 

 should regulate their use according to the result he is 

 aiming at. 



A. How to obtain the engagement and mobility of 

 the hindquarters. — The hindquarters are the seat 

 of impulsion, and at the same time they are a helm 

 which causes the changes of direction. 



The mechanism of the impulsion resides in the play 

 of the joint formed by the pelvis and the thigh. It is 

 this joint which, by closing itself more or less, and 

 bringing the hocks under the body, enables the horse 

 to cover more or less ground, in consequence of the 

 more or less energy put into the action of the pro- 

 pellers. 



This bringing forward of the hind legs lowers the 

 quarters, and so facilitates rapid changes of direction. 

 The hindquarters should also be able to move them- 

 selves freely to one side or the other. But, by reason 

 of his conformation, the horse cannot execute this 

 movement without passing, say, the off hind leg in 

 front of the near hind leg, and in this case also it is 

 necessary for the horse to lower his quarters and bring 

 his hocks under the body. 



The movements, which assist in obtaining this 

 engagement and mobility of the hindquarters, are ; 



