62 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



be taught to yield to the two legs. This lesson is the first 

 to be given and should be frequently repeated. For the 

 first sessions the following rules are apropos: 



First. Do not let the legs lie "dead" against the horse's 

 sides; act by repeated taps. 



Second. Touch him near the girths; not too far in rear. 



Third. Begin by giving this lesson in passing from the 

 walk to the trot, then in lengthening the trot, finally in 

 passing from the halt to the trot. 



Fourth. Aid the action of the legs, if necessary, by 

 clucking immediately afterw^ards, with the tongue, or even 

 with light whip taps on the shoulder. Ihis last suggestion 

 is more particularly useful when the lesson is given in the 

 riding hall; outside on the road, and especially when march- 

 ing behind an old leader, the colts have a natural tendency 

 to move forward in order to follow. That is another reason 

 in favor of working out of doors at an early date. 



In the forward movement the reins should always be 

 stretched. Otherwise, instead of being inclosed, the horse 

 is uncertain in his direction; he wabbles, and the rider is 

 without power to direct him. 



It is easy to maintain the reins stretched with energetic 

 horses having a natural impulsion; it suffices for the rider 

 to fix his hands, and w^ithout altering the speed of the horse, 

 to moderate his excess of ardor. It is more difficult to 

 habituate lazy, cold-blooded, or grass-raised colts to go up 

 to the hand. These, as a rule, only stretch their reins when 

 they are tired. With those horses, it is the rider who must 

 seek the horse's mouth. Later on, when work has made 

 him stronger, the horse, having learned the habit of taking 

 contact with the bit, and urged by the legs, will stretch the 

 reins of his own accord. When the horse obeys the action 

 of the legs, or even the taps of the heel, work on a straight 

 line at the walk, trot, and gallop will lead him little by little 

 to take the desired support on the hand; the rider should 

 now be careful not to rebuke him by severe pulls. A set 

 hand, with fingers closed, would hinder the horse's mouth 

 and bring undesired results. 



So, in the first lesson, in moving forward, the hand 

 should not oppose the extension of the neck; the fingers, 

 on the contrary, should be well opened so that the neck 

 may stretch out and nothing may impede the willingness of 

 the horse in moving forward. The legs are active, the 

 hands passive. 



