106 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



making the horse supple and active in his canter and 

 gallop, easy to handle, and clever on bad ground. 



The different movements which have just been 

 mentioned should be demanded by the indirect rein, 

 which acts effectively on the shoulders. Of course, 

 these movements do not possess, in themselves, a 

 special power leading straight to the end desired ; the 

 rider must a]3ply the right aids according to the end 

 he has in view and the resistances which he meets with, 

 and he must act with tact, that is to say, with more or 

 less energy or gentleness according to the circumstances. 



At first, in order not to discourage the horse, these 

 different movements may be large and even irregular, 

 but they should become more and more confined and 

 precise, in order to bring about the complete obedience 

 to the aids, which is indispensable in single combat. 



During all the work, the greatest care must be 

 taken to preserve the forward movement, and the rider 

 should always, after closely collecting his horse, allow 

 him to relax his muscles, by extending his stride, before 

 giving him rest, so as to avoid any loss of impulsion. 



D. How to supple the lower jaw. — The supple- 

 ness of the lower jaw is the visible sign of perfect 

 balance ; it indicates a general relaxation of the 

 muscles. In the case of a horse with a normal mouth, 

 the exercises which supple and strengthen the young 

 horse produce this mobility of the jaw, which is to some 

 extent the proof of willing obedience. But some horses, 

 though the rest of their body may be supple, maintain 

 an abnormal stiffness in the jaw. 



The cause of every resistance is pain. The con- 

 traction of the lower jaw may be caused by a bit which 

 does not suit the horse, cither because his mouth is 

 too sensitive for the bit, or, on the contrary, because 



