70 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



First instruction over obstacles. — There is advantage in 

 commencing early the colt's training over obstacles, pro- 

 vided only freedom and skill are sought. An exaggerated 

 effort must not be demanded; but at the same time he must 

 be taught to respect the obstacle ; so he is exercised over 

 low, stiff ones. 



Leading. — The horses having been taught by the work 

 on the longe to follow their trainer without hesitation, ad- 

 vantage is taken of this to make them pass in the same 

 manner, in hand, all the small natural obstacles that may 

 be found, such as ditches at the side of roads, little brooks, 

 banks up and down, slopes, etc. 



The instructor should not forget that his aim is to de- 

 velop skill, that this is only obtained by quietness; and 

 that gentleness can only come from the patience of the 

 trainer. So no violent means are allowed in this work. 



Nevertheless care must be taken that the horses do 

 not profit by the amount of liberty which is thus necessarily 

 given them, to turn on the man and strike him. 



Passing obstacles by leading the horses should not only 

 be regarded as a step to jumping mounted, but also as an 

 end in itself. It is a manner of crossing which must be 

 cultivated and perfected. 



A troop must count on using this method as well as a 

 lone rider who finds himself faced by a diflBcult crossing. 



On the longe. — As the colt gains in strength, the instruc- 

 tor adds, for each of them, some lessons in jumping on the 

 longe or at liberty. 



To jump on the longe, the horse is put on a circle, or 

 rather on an ellipse, so that he will always have a certain 

 space of ground to cover on a straight line before taking 

 off, which allows him to calculate his strides; and so also 

 he will not turn too short after jumping. The instructor, 

 to maintain him on this ellipse, himself moves practically, 

 on the long axis. He should always be level with the 

 horse's croup when the latter arrives at the obstacle. 



At the moment of the jump and for the first strides 

 which follow, the longe should be allowed to slide easily. 



One commences with the bar on the ground. It is not 

 raised until the horse passes it at the three gaits without 

 hastening or slowing. To calm the horses and lead them 

 to raise their shoulders there is advantage in making them 

 jump a long time from the walk and trot. 



