VI. 



Importance of the Straight Ahead Movement. Above? cvin - 

 thing else, the horse must go freely straight ahead. 'I'lic 

 lesson with this object in view must be the first of all 

 lessons; from the beginning of horse training the horse must 

 be accustomed to yield to the action of both legs. This 

 is essentially a sign of docility; the full or the limited 

 obedience of the horse shown in this first test, will be an 

 indication of a brief or a protracted period of training. 



To Accustom the Horse to Go Straight Ahead Under the 

 Action of the Legs. The leg lesson is admittedly the most im- 

 portant lesson and there is good reason to return to it during 

 the whole period of training. For the first occasion observe 

 the following rules: 



Never keep the lower leg glued to the horse's flank, but 

 use repeated taps with the calves. 



Tap the horse near the girth and do not reach too far 

 back. 



Begin by giving the lesson when passing from the walk 

 to the trot, next when lengthening the trot and finally wlien 

 passing from the halt to the trot. 



Anticipate and assist the action of the legs Iw clucking 

 with the tongue or by the use of light taps with the wliip. 



These rules are especially applicable to riding hall les- 

 sons, for, in outside work on a road, young horses have a 

 natural tendency to go straight ahead, following the old 

 horses at the head of the squad. 



Lightness— When to be Exacted. A horse is light when he 

 obeys easily and promptly the indications of the rider. This 

 is not a question merely of flexibility of jaw and suppleness 

 of neck but rather of balance and, in our opinion, the degree 

 of lightness corresponds to the more or less finished balance. 



Therefore, in the first lesson there should be no anxiety 

 about lightness, for, as we have just remarked, it will be :i 



(31) 



