16 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



which will strike the imagination, amuse, persuade, draw 

 out, and communicate to all his zeal, his self-denial, and 

 his faith. 



Ends to seek. — The preparatory work described in the 

 regulations very briefly, involves some developments, 

 from the instructor's point of view, without which this 

 work will not produce the expected results. 



The successive objects to be attained in this first part 

 of the instruction are: To give confidence to the rider; 

 to give him means for holding on ; to lead him to acquire 

 independence in the use of his aids; to give him the proper 

 position of the trooper mounted. 



Establishing the confidence of the rider. — The mounted 

 instruction of the recruit is hindered at thebegining by an 

 unreasoning, instinctive revolt of his nervous and muscular 

 system which leads to contraction. This is combated by 

 vaulting and by having the recruits ride by the side of older 

 men who hold the recruits' horses by the longe, by encour- 

 aging them, by establishing their confidence, and by out- 

 of-door work. 



The particular contractions which show up from the 

 beginning of individual work will disappear under the use 

 of the suppling exercises prescribed in the School of the 

 Trooper. 



In order to miss none of their useful effects one must 

 follow a logical order; commence by the seat, the loins, the 

 shoulders, the arms and head, and not undertake the move- 

 ments of the thighs and legs until ease in the top of the 

 body is obtained. 



The best suppling, however, is good humor, which leads 

 promptly and directly to confidence. 



Maintenance of position.— As soon as confidence is 

 obtained, we must fix the rider in his seat in order to push 

 his instruction. The rider is maintained in his saddle by 

 his seat and the stirrups. 



(a) The seat.— Seat is that quality which permits the 

 rider to remain master of his balance in all circumstances, 

 whatever may be the reactions of the horse. 



It is the first quality to be sought, because it is the basis 

 of solidity, and therefore of confidence and it is the mea- 

 sure of a good hand without which neither management 

 nor training is possible. 



