Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 59 



If the horse attempts to escape, one must, after having 

 ceded slightly to his movement, resist with the hand and 

 bring him back little by little. 



If the horse stops, one may point the whip toward the 

 the croup to cause him to move forward; if he cuts in on 

 the circle the whip may be pointed toward the shoulders to 

 force him out. 



If the horse pulls violently on the longe at the fast 

 gaits, it is because one has proceeded too fast in the begin- 

 ning. Rest him often and begin again the work at the walk 

 and slow trot on the small circle. 



The early lessons may be made easier by using the 

 corners of the riding hall. The wall may be of use in stop- 

 ping a horse who has got out of hand. The voice, loud at 

 first, should now find the same obedience when used more 

 gently. 



The longe also communicates the instructor's will to 

 the horse; by light horizontal oscillations, the horse is 

 kept from the center; by more or less marked movement, 

 one may slow the gait or stop the horse when he does not 

 obey the voice. 



If the work on the longe has been well directed, the 

 horse should be calm and regular on the circle; pass freely 

 from one gait to another at the simple indication of the 

 voice ; come toward or go away from the center according 

 to the liberty accorded; in a word, be on the hand with 

 the contact of the slightly stretched longe, as later on he 

 should be, with a light tension on the reins. 



Saddling. — When the horse is calmed by work and per- 

 fectly gentle on the cavesson, one can profit by that to 

 gradually teach him to bear the girths, a lesson which 

 might present diflaculties if given in the stable. 



The saddle is at first put on without stirrups or stirrup 

 straps; the girth is quite loose at first; it is tightened grad- 

 ually during the work. When the horse is accustomed to 

 the contact of saddle and girth, the stirrups are added and 

 allowed to hang dowm on each side while the horse moves 

 at the walk and trot. 



He is thus prepared for the mounting lesson, w^hich 

 becomes easy; in fact, defenses nearly always result from 

 the colt's being saddled and mounted for the first time on 

 the same day. 



