154 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



stir up those that are wanting in ardor and 

 vivacity. In horses of action, the forces of 

 the hind parts surpass those of the fore 

 parts. It is the opposite in dull horses. 

 We can thus account for the quickness of 

 the former; the slowness and sluggishness 

 of the latter. 



By the exercise of suppling, we have 

 completely annulled the instinctive forces 

 of the horse. We must now reunite these 

 forces in their true centre of gravity, which 

 is the middle of the animal's body ; and 

 it is by the properly combined opposition 

 of the legs and hands that we will succeed 

 in this. The advantages we possess already 

 over the horse, will enable us to combat, 

 from their very birth, all the resistances 

 which tend to make him leave the proper 

 position — the only one in which we can 

 successfully practise our oppositions. It is 

 also of the first importance to put into our 



