Manual of Equitation and Horse TRAiNiNCi 37 



*'Turn to the right, by the right opening rein." 



2: Or again, the section marching to the right hand: 

 "By the right opening rein, half turn." 



'•By the left bearing rein of opposition, on two tracks 

 on the diagonal." 



3: Then, later, "By the right bearing rein, by the left 

 flank, etc." 



The pupil will have been shown in the first example 

 that the right rein has been able to produce three effects 

 following the different directions given it; in the second, 

 he will have learned to change rapidly from the action of 

 the right hand to that of the left and back to the former. 



(C) When this practice of one hand alone is well un- 

 derstood and executed, it is necessarj^ to learn, on the 

 same movements, and with the same progression, to act 

 with both reins, but having them in accord, the hands act- 

 ing, resisting, or giving away, according to circumstances. 



(D) In the end the movements must be complicated, 

 as the broken line, serpentine, pursuit, and hurried, to 

 give the pupil decision and agility. 



In the midst of these increasing difficulties the instruc- 

 tor should make sure that the riders use properly the pre- 

 scribed actions of hands and legs and that thej^ take note 

 of the effects obtained. He indicates to them the positions 

 of the head and neck to be sought, the dangers to avoid, 

 and by incessant intervention he corrects every fault com- 

 mitted. 



The student will thus come to discern the muscles 

 which should act in the execution of the prescribed move- 

 ments, and to isolate their response in power and rapidity. 

 By experience, then, he will only have to acquire the habit 

 of true and timely action to be fully in possession of his 

 powers as a rider and to overcome all difficulties. 



Use of the aids. — When the rider knows the aids and 

 is master of them, it remains for him to use them with 

 tact. 



The placing of the aids alone decides, regulates, and 

 directs a movement in a given purpose. It is brought 

 about by practice, a feeling of the horse, and equestrian 

 tact. The feeling of the horse permits the rider to judge 

 of the degree of submission or resistance of his mount. 



Equestrian tact leads to economy of the rider's strength. 

 It leads him to determine on the effect to produce, the in- 



