Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 109 



from the walk to the halt, and to back, the rider fixes the 

 hands, straightening up and carrying back the top of the 

 body, the fingers closed on the adjusted reins. The legs 

 should be ready to resist and even to act if necessary— that 

 is, if the effect produced by the tension on the reins is sup- 

 erior to that which the rider wished to obtain. Therefore, 

 they have only occasion to intervene when the horse has 

 commenced to yield to the action of the reins. 



To maintain a given gait and a given speed. — With well- 

 balanced horses, which while moving forward freely 

 remain submissive to the aids and respectful of the rider's 

 hand, a slight tension on the reins is suficient to maintain 

 the gait and speed which are chosen. To keep the horse 

 light and to oblige him to yield the jaw and clamp the bit, 

 one must act by the play of the fingers or by the division 

 of supports while keeping up the impulsion. 



But it frequently happens that, whether from pulHng 

 or holding back, the horse does not maintain regular gaits. 



The horse may pull for many reasons: nervousness, 

 pain, lack of balance, contradiction, etc. These several 

 causes are manifested to the rider's hand in two ways. 

 The latter may feel on his hand an inert mass, heavy to 

 carry and difficult to displace (the horse goes on his shoul- 

 ders) ; this is called weight resistance. It may be com- 

 bated by the half halt, which obliges the horse to raise and 

 sustain himself. Or the rider may feel in his fingers forces 

 coming from muscular contractions of the jaw, and which 

 the horse instinctively or voluntary directs against the bit. 

 These are combated by flexions or vibrations. 



Horses may not keep up the gait desired, through lazi- 

 ness, lack of strength, fear of the hand, or ignorance of 

 the positions favorable to the movement. 



If it is through laziness, attack vigorously with the 

 legs or, if necessary, with the spurs to reestablish a pro- 

 found respect for the legs. 



If it is through lack of strength, conditioning, age, and 

 nourishment, combined with the action of the aids, little 

 by little will increase the horse's vigor. 



If the horse is afraid of the bit, he shows his fear by 

 raising his head and refusing the hand. He thus crushes 

 the hindquarters and, instead of engaging, jigs without 

 gaining ground. In this case it is necessary to modify the 

 bitting, give him confidence in the hand by light play of 



