Chapter IV.--TRAINING 



The trained or balanced horse understands the rider's 

 intentions from his smallest movement, and immediately 

 responds to them with exactness, lightness, and energy, 

 in other words, the horse is sensitive to the leg and light 

 on the hand. 



Training is distinguished from breaking in that, during 

 the fifth year, the colt's acclimation and physical develop- 

 ment are of the greatest concern to the rider, who makes 

 great concessions; while at six years it is the horse which 

 must submit to the rider's demands and show complete 

 obedience. 



Training should only be undertaken when the horse, 

 strengthened by fresh air and rational work, inclined to 

 move forward, and confident in his rider, is in shape to 

 understand the language of the aids and to lend himself to 

 their requirements. 



To give good results, training should be derived from 

 a doctrine, follow a method, and conform absolutely to the 

 rules of both. 



A doctrine is a collection of principles established by 

 experience and justified by reason. 



In training the fundamental principle imposes the 

 search for a calm, forward, straight, and manageable horse. 



Method adds to the principles the means of execution 

 and rules the order of their use. It varies according to the 

 particular end which one desires to attain, and according 

 to circumstances of time and place. 



The method of training set forth here has as objects: 



1. The development of the horse's physical 



strength and moral qualities. 



2. His submission to the aids, obtained by a ra- 



tional progressive education, excluding all 

 effect of force. 



3. The search for balance. 



The means of execution depend upon the temperament 

 of the instructor and the skill of the rider. 



The progressions, containing neither rules nor means, 

 are offered only as aids to the memory. The series of 

 72 



