74 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



PHYSIOLOGY OF TRAINING— INFLUENCE OF 

 CHARACTER AND CONFORMATION. 



The horse's mental constitution has also considerable 

 influence on his education. We must study it to take ad- 

 vantage of it. 



Its characteristic is the memory. This quality aids 

 training when one knows how to profit by it. On the 

 other hand, it makes errors dangerous; it is difficult to 

 retrain a horse — that is, to make him forget bad lessons. 



Aptitudes vary in different animals, qualities of intelli- 

 gence likewise. Some are found which understand imme- 

 diately what is asked of them, others are very slow to 

 learn. 



The horse is generally kind; he is sensitive to good 

 treatment, to the voice and caresses. Blows do not subdue 

 him; they only serve to make him irritable and restive. 



He is capable of attention and reflection, since some- 

 times he executes in the morning movements which were 

 difficult for him the evening before; he has a tendency to 

 imitate. It is on this latter aptitude that the use of lead- 

 ers is based. 



He is patient, but his patience is not unlimited. To 

 know the limit of the requirements which he can endure 

 during each period of his training is one of its difficulties. 



Training disciplines the horse but can not completely 

 transform his character. A mean or vicious horse, how- 

 ever well trained, is always to be suspected. In studying 

 the mental faculties of his horse and in joining his own 

 efforts to them the rider hastens his submission. His 

 physical make-up and temperament both require observa- 

 tion. It is through consideration of the length and direc- 

 tion of his members, the play of the joints, the ease of 

 nutrition and digestion, etc., that one may foresee the good 

 qualities which the horse may offer or the difficulties he 

 may present. 



Limit of training. — In the study of each subject the in- 

 structor decides the means of training which best suit the 

 case and regulates the work accordingly. 



It is not possible to give a horse qualities he does not 

 possess; but one may always develop his means without 

 ever trying to obtain by force what he has not strength to 

 give. 



