TRAINING 113 



this necessity, as, for instance, when on the road, 

 or on an individual mission, or when taking a ride 

 alone. 



The extension or lowering of the neck is quite 

 different from the dropping of the hands. 



It is evident that the considerable part the neck 

 plays in the movement of the horse at liberty, makes 

 it necessary for the rider to be master of the lengthen- 

 ing and shortening of the neck, if he intends to have 

 it in his power to regulate the movement according 

 to his wishes. 



When the training is properly carried out, the 

 connection between the rider's hand and the horse's 

 mouth ought to be regulated, from the first, by 

 making the most of the natural attitudes indispensable 

 to movement, and yet maintaining in the horse the 

 respect for the hand. 



In course of time, whenever, after getting the 

 horse in hand, the rider yields progressively the hand, 

 whilst the legs continue to act, the horse should 

 search for the bit by lengthening his stride. The 

 rider's tact will now show itself in finding and giving 

 to the horse the support which will be best for him 

 for lengthening his stride, changing the pace, jumping, 

 etc. It is no longer the dropping of the hand, it is 

 teaching the horse that when the rider continues the 

 pressure of the legs and at the same time progressively 

 eases the hand, he should lengthen his stride, lower 

 his head and demand from the hand the support and 

 assistance necessary. The rider brings the head back 

 into place with the reins, and, the hand having then 

 more action than the legs, there will be of necessity 

 a reduction of the pace ; after the horse has lengthened 

 his stride and then collected himself into a slower 



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