134 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



rider to move his horse forward, should 

 make use of a force equal to twenty 

 pounds, fifteen for the impulse forward, and 

 five to bring his head into position. If the 

 legs increase their motion without the hands 

 increasing theirs in the same proportion, it 

 is evident that the surplus of communicated 

 force will be thrown into the neck, cause it 

 to contract, and destroy all lightness. If, 

 on the contrary, it is the hand which acts 

 with too much violence, it will be at the 

 expense of the impulsive force necessary to 

 move the horse forward; on this account, 

 his forward movement will be slackened and 

 counteracted, at the same time that his posi- 

 tion will lose its gracefulness and power. 



This short explanation will suffice to 

 show the harmony that should exist be- 

 tween the legs and hands. It is understood 

 that their motion should vary according as 

 the formation of the horse renders it neces- 



