NOTES OX Ec^riTATlON /i7 



less ditticult to supple a part that presents stiffness tli.ii. t<. 

 make a part firm where all resistance is lacking. 



To attain this bearing on the l)it the following schcduh 

 should be followed: 



1. Ride the horse with the reins in both hands, piaciiig 

 the snaffle rein outside, under the little linger. (See (^k^- 

 tionXXV). 



2. At first, during work at a walk and later during work 

 at a trot, ride the horse with the curb rein alone; the reinh 

 may be held in one hand or in both hands. 



3. Finally adopt the ordinary method of holding the 

 reins. 



With each of these different methods of holding the 

 reins, the horse must be made to repeat simple movement :- 

 with which he is already familiar. 



Moreover, the horse should be frequently put hack on 

 the snaffle alone and be ridden at extended gaits in order to 

 restore the confidence that he may have lost in heginnin-: 

 lessons on the curb. 



During this preparatory period the legs play an import- 

 ant role. It is essential that the curb bit should i)r()duee 

 upon the horse no slowing or backing effect and that th< 

 forward movement produced by the legs should overcome 

 any tendency in the other direction which might he the re- 

 sult of the first use of this bit. 



Bending Lessons. As previously stated, bending lesson^ 

 should not be begun until the horse has become thoroughly 

 accustomed to his new mouthpiece and fearlessly :i('<«'pts 

 contact of both bit and chain. 



Before setting forth a schedule of hendings, it will he 

 advisable to cite the following principles relating thereto: 



1. Never slacken the gait during bending lessons. The 

 hand does not pull the horse back; the legs push him for- 

 ward until he encounters the bit when a bending results. 



.2. Bendings with the snaffle bit should not be made ex- 

 cept with one rein alone. Both snaffle reins are used in 

 order to raise the head and to support the horse and there- 



