TRAINING 107 



its sensitiveness may have been deadened to siieli an 

 extent that it cannot feel the effects of the bit. The lirst 

 remedy consists, in this case, in the careful choice and 

 fitting of the bit. The shaj)e of the bit, its position 

 in the mouth, the length of the cheeks, the thickness 

 of the canons, the height of the port, the length of the 

 curb chain, help to overcome many resistances. 



Nevertheless, owing to the action of a brutal or 

 simply clumsy hand, the most carefully bitted horse 

 will form habits or take positions which are veritable 

 resistances, because they enable him to avoid the 

 constraint of the bit. It is therefore necessary in these 

 particular cases, to recommence the education of the 

 mouth with the help of appropriate suppling exercises, 

 intended to destroy the bad habits and to replace them 

 with good ones. 



A horse is said to yield to the hand when, being in 

 light contact with it, he slightly opens the mouth on 

 feeling the fingers close themselves on the reins, and 

 moves his tongue and the bits for an instant, and then 

 immediately resumes contact with the hand. The 

 cession should be confined to the mouth, and should 

 not be accompanied by any movement of the head or 

 neck. 



The first elements of this exercise can be taught 

 on foot and at the walk ; but as at this pace, with the 

 instructor on foot, the impulsion is at the best feeble, 

 the employment of this method may be dangerous in 

 secondary equitation. 



To obtain the desired relaxation, the rider should 

 put his horse into an extended pace, and by the gentle 

 fixity of his hand, he will strive to obtain a confident 

 feeling, wdth the carriage of the head and neck which 

 is usual to the horse, although it may be a vicious 



