Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 39 



with young horses, to clearly express the rider's inten- 

 tions, they should be reduced almost to inviHil)illty as train- 

 ing progresses. 



If, at the beginning, the forearm, wrist, and hand par- 

 ticipate in the action, with a trained horse, on the con- 

 trary, it is only by a more or less complete relaxing of the 

 fingers that the rider transmits his will. Effects of trac- 

 tion, pulling, even of force, are succeeded by effects of in- 

 dication, then of education. 



Equestrian tact consists, on the whole in carefully 

 choosing the determining and regulating aids, in assigning 

 to each its part of action, resistance, or passivity, and then 

 having the effect fall on the point selected, taking count 

 of the seats of resistance which are the mouth, shoulders, 

 and haunches, and at the moment selected, thus taking 

 full benefit of the laws of balance and locomotion. 



The part of the instructor is here much restricted be- 

 cause, not riding the horse himself, many resistances es- 

 cape his knowledge. The pupil must, therefore, double 

 his efforts. If he does not judge his own actions properly 

 he will make no progress. Practice, resting on good prin- 

 ciples, should be the true teacher. 



