Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 79 



ward, backward, to the right and to the left always take 

 place because the center of gravity draws the mass in one 

 of these four directions. 



In practice, a balanced horse is one which remains 

 light in his gaits and agile in his changes of direction. 



It may be admitted that the horse in liberty balances 

 himself naturally. His movements are more or less simple ; 

 but the mobility which he exhibits, shows that he is master 

 of his strength and can make judicious use of it. With rare 

 exceptions, as soon as the horse is mounted, this equilib- 

 rium finds itself broken by the rider's weight which dis- 

 places the center of gravity (two-thirds of this weight falls 

 on the forehand) ; in addition, the voluntary or involun- 

 tary actions of the aids provoke numerous contractions. 

 One part of the horse's muscular power is thus employed 

 in resisting the rider. 



The less a horse resists his rider, the better he can 

 balance himself; the more he is manageable. 



The conformation also has great influence on the use 

 which he makes of his strength. A well-made horse bal- 

 ances himself more easily under the best possible mechan- 

 ical conditions. 



Whatever be the conformation of the horse, the rider 

 should seek to make him retake, as soon as possible, a 

 natural balance, or at least a balance which approaches it. 

 At the beginning, therefore, the horse will be given great 

 liberty, for in restraining his movements he is prevented 

 from refinding this balance. 



The more the rider is steady, exact, and conciliating in 

 his actions, the more confidence will the horse have and 

 the quicker will he regain his equilibrium. 



As training progresses the number of resistances will 

 diminish. The horse in yielding to the aids will make 

 better use of his strength, better division of his weight, 

 and the rider will then be able without difficulty to give 

 him the position leading to the movement which he wishes 

 to execute. 



Locomotion. — The order in which the horse places his 

 feet in the different movements and the several gaits forms 

 the object of the laws of locomotion. 



In superior equitation application of some of these 

 observations may lead to good results; in secondary equi- 

 tation a wider point of view must be taken under penalty 



