108 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



attitude. This result having been obtained, the rider 

 will have recourse to an intermittent feeling on the 

 mouth, by easing one bit and closing the fingers on the 

 reins of the other one, by drawing the bridoon lightly 

 from side to side, or by simply easing and closing the 

 fingers on the reins. These various actions tend to 

 baffle the resistance, by constantly changing the sup- 

 port, and overcoming the contraction of the muscles 

 by keeping them constantly mobilized. 



According to the nature of the resistance, the half- 

 halt or vibrations, administered through one or several 

 of the reins, will cause sooner or later the relaxation 

 wanted. When, in consequence of the repetition of 

 these exercises, the horse obeys without hesitation, 

 and when every combination of the reins secures the 

 same submission, the education of the mouth is finished. 



The advantages derived from the relaxation of the 

 lower jaw are the effects produced on the nape of the 

 neck, and on the neck itself, the muscles of w^hich 

 soon also relax themselves. The neck first takes its 

 natural position, and then, owing to progressive 

 exercise, it arrives at the position that gives the face a 

 vertical line, and makes the control of the horse easy. 

 When practising the suppling exercises of the mouth, 

 the rider must take every precaution to preserve the 

 impulsion, and he should not recompense a concession 

 by reducing the pace, but by slackening the reins, 

 patting the horse, and pressing him on in a brisk pace. 



The rider must, if necessarj^, limit the emj^loyment 

 of this local exercise, and not lose sight of the end 

 sought in training as a whole, namely, the harmonizing 

 of all the forces of the horse. 



Movement to the side and "shoulder in." — The 

 movement to the side, carried out with the lateral 



