26 ' NOTES ON EQUITATION 



around the place where the saddle girth belongs and not 

 pushed forward to the horse's elbows; the object being to 

 prevent the formation of two worn places. 



Work on the Longe. This work may be of great service 

 in horse training, provided, however, that the longe is used 

 as a means of training and not as a medium for fatiguing 

 exercise. 



The following principles must dominate in this work: 



1. The horse is to be controlled by the longe and not by 

 the whip; the only function of the latter is to move the 

 horse forward. 



2. The length of the longe is to be frequently changed. 

 The horse should alternately stretch himself on a large circle 

 and bend himself on a small circle. 



3. The gaits should be frequently changed and the horse 

 brought to the walk from time to time in order to avoid the 

 stiffness of gait that would result from prolonged work. 



The progressive method of handling a horse on the 

 longe is given in the regulations (U. S. Cavalry, par. 459) 

 and is described in detail in several works; there is, there- 

 fore, no necessity of repeating details here. It will be suffi- 

 cient to point out the different cases in which the longe can 

 be used to advantage. 



Work on the longe can be used: 



1. To exercise young horses without injury and without 

 fatigue to the joints. 



2. To give first lessons to horses difficult to manage. 



3. For horses that hold back or fight. 



4. For horses with one shoulder more developed than 

 the other. 



5. For those that will not work equally well on either 

 hand. 



6. For horses that bend themselves with difficulty. 



7. After horses have acquired the habit of this work, 

 lessons in jumping on the longe can be given later without 

 difficulty; horses should not be put at the jump until they 

 are thoroughly manageable with the cavesson and longe. 



