80 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



of following a road but slightly practical and of aggrava- 

 ting the difficulties. 



The rider, then, has only to occupy himself in giving 

 the horse the position which should precede the move- 

 ment, leaving to the horse the care and time of placing 

 his feet accordingly. 



Role and position of the head in movement. — When the 

 horse uses all his natural means to aid in the execution of 

 his movements he employs his head and neck as a governor, 

 by which he balances or modifies his forces. If he wishes 

 to move forward he straightens his head, stretches out his 

 neck so as to draw the center of gravity in the direction of 

 motion; on the contrary, if he wishes to stop or back, he 

 brings in his head, shortens his neck, and thus impresses 

 on the mass the movement to the rear. 



In movement to the side, oblique or circular, it is 

 again the displacement of the head and neck to the right 

 or left which facilitates, rules, and maintains the turn. 



The rider who wishes to be master of his horse should 

 place his head in such a position that the bit may regulate 

 its displacements as well as those of the neck. In this way 

 the latter bends, shortens, or stretches out, according to 

 the impressions which the mouth receives from the rider's 

 hand. 



In order that the impression of the hand may be trans- 

 mitted to the horse's mouth clearly, and that the breathing 

 may not be hindered, the horse's head should be a little in 

 advance of the vertical. It should be made to take this 

 position in the ordinary gaits and the simple, regular 

 movements. 



The more the gait is to be shortened, the more should 

 the head approach the vertical line; on the other hand, 

 the more it is wished to increase the speed, the more the 

 head should leave this line. 



In these two last cases the position which the head 

 assumes may be considered normal, since the attitude 

 favors the slowing or the development of the gaits. 



The head may effect an irregular position, too close or 

 too far from the vertical, by reason of defective confor- 

 mation of the forehand, badly adjusted bitting, excess of 

 sensibility in the chin groove or bars, or — and it is the 

 most frequent case with horses that "stargaze" — by defec- 

 tive conformation in some part of the hind quarters. 



