54 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



At the end of the second year, between the return from 

 maneuvers and the 1st of January, the "training colts" 

 work with the old horses, in the instruction of the troop, 

 and thus learn to obey any hand. This forms a useful 

 transition from training, properly called, and is the time 

 when the horses enter definitely into service. 



Circumstances which may influence the duration of the 

 education of the young horse. — It is necessary to take into 

 consideration in the education of the young horse certain 

 circumstances which may greatly influence the training. 

 Health, age, race, previous feeding and work, character, 

 and natural balance or lack of aptitude for the saddle are 

 some factors which may impede or hasten the progress 

 of the work. 



Certain aged horses sent directly to the regiment from 

 the remount depots may be assigned on their arrival to the 

 6-year old training sections. Others, on the contrary, and 

 particularly mares having been used for breeding, should 

 be kept in the breaking sections until their development 

 is sufficient. 



General rules. — The function of the instructor is to 

 study and weigh all these considerations. He will know 

 from his experience the means to obtain his end which is 

 to have the young horses at 7 years healthy,. free from 

 blemish, and able to fulfill on varied ground all demands 

 of the soldier in campaign. 



The instructor will be prompted by the principles set 

 forth and developed in Chapter IV of the second part of 

 this work and by the following rules, which he should con- 

 stantly have in mind — 



Never commence work without being absolutely sure 

 of what is to be done. 



Progress in the horse's education from the known to 

 the unknown, from the simple to the difficult. 



Always use exactly the same effects to obtain the same 

 results. 



Remember that in the execution of every movement 

 position should precede action. 



Never ask anything of a horse which is still under the 

 impression of a preceding requirement. 



Never combat two resistances at once. 



Do not confound the rider's lack of skill with the ignor- 

 ance or bad will of the horse. 



