ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



The other schools are all for leg work, the 

 hands being more or less passive agents, closing 

 strongly on the reins when the horse bears on 

 the bit, or pulls, and allowing the legs to gently 

 press him against the bit. Their chief maxims 

 are : " Peu de mains, et beaucoup de jambes" 

 "Main fixe, rines t endues, et jambes actives et 

 constantes" " Immobility du bras, souplesse des 

 poignets" "La main indique le mouvement et 

 les jambes le font exe 1 cuter" and " La Idgereti 

 a la main est donnie par les jambes et par les 

 dperons pres des sangles." This does not 

 mean that the horse should be held tight by the 

 head and then spurred until he yields to the 

 bit ; * if the horse bears on the hand, the hands 

 should be raised, keeping only a very light 

 feeling on the mouth, so as to allow the horse 

 the free use of his neck. The fingers being 

 closed firmly on the reins, the legs then, by 

 touching lightly with the spurs close behind the 

 girth, make the horse bring his hind legs under 

 him, arch his neck, mobilize his lower jaw, and 

 generally balance himself, and become light in 

 hand and obedient to the slightest contraction 



* When a horse wants to get his hind legs well under 

 him he naturally drops his head and neck, so if his head is 

 forcibly held high it makes it difficult for him to obey the 

 legs and spurs, balance himself and become light in hand. 



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