64 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



onej all of whose parts being regularly har- 

 monized, induce the perfect equilibrium of 

 the whole. It would be as difficult for such 

 a subject to leave this natural equilibrium, 

 and take up an improper position, for the 

 purpose of resistance, as it is at first painful 

 for the badly formed horse to come into 

 that just distribution of forces, without 

 which no regularity of movement can be 

 hoped for. 



It is then only in the education of these 

 last that the real difficulties of horseman- 

 ship consist. With the others the breaking 

 ought to be, so to say, instantaneous; since, 

 all the springs being in their places, there 

 is nothing to be done but to put them in 

 motion; this result is always obtained by 

 my method. Yet the old principles demand 

 two or three years to reach this point. And 

 when, by feeling his way without any cer- 

 tainty of success, the horseman, gifted with 



