122 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



Obstacles. — Lesson on the longe and at liberty; skill 

 on tree trunks, ditches, banks, etc. 



Hygiene. — Period of shedding (March-April). Watch 

 the hygiene and feeding. Modification of work. 



Period of feeding grass. — The horse should be rather 

 fat. Increase the grain. Cut down work outside. Appear- 

 ance of horse in condition— eye. skin, muscles, flank, legs. 



II. — More marked obedience to aids. 



Some riding- hall work as during the second period; in 

 snaffle at first, in double bridle during the last month. 

 Further: 



1. Confirm the forward movement. First search for bal- 



ance by increasing and decreasing the gaits on a straight 

 line. 



2. Mobilizing the haunch- [Passing corners. 



es (efforts of one leg <^ Serpentines. 



alone) [Demivoltes reversed, etc. 



3. Mobilizing the shoul- [Passing corners. 



ders (action of the <^ Serpentines, 

 bearing rein) [Demivoltes. 



4. Extending and redressing the neck. 



5. Gallop departs on straight line by lateral aids. 



FOURTH PERIOD. 

 (Aug. 15 to Oct. 1, l^a months.) 



Periods of rest. — Leading; large substitutions for grain 

 rations. Mashes, purges. Fatten the horses. 



Training. 



(4 periods.) 



First period: October 1 to December 1. 

 Second period: December 1 to June 1. 

 Third period: June 1 to August 15 (maneuvers V 

 Fourth period: August 15 to October 1. 



first period. 



(Oct. 1 to Dec. 1, 2 months.) 



Obiects rPutting the horse back in work. 



^Bringing him under the aids again. 



/. — Taking up work. 



New assignment of horses to officers, noncommissioned 

 officers, and selected men. 



