TRAINING. 77 



from the walk, and the walk be again demanded. 

 But these changes from the halt to the walk, and 

 from the walk to the trot should be made quietly 

 and without disorder, and always against a slight 

 tension of the reins. In order that the trainer 

 may know how thoroughly these lessons should be 

 conducted, I may say that no horse can be made 

 safe to ride until it has been taught to go into 

 the bridle ; for the trick of getting behind the 

 hand is the source of nearly every vice possible 

 to the saddle-horse. 



When the horse will move forward freely in 

 the walk and in the trot against a constant ten- 

 sion upon the snaffle reins, it is ready for the 

 suppling and collecting exercises. 



These early lessons may be given in the open 

 air, on the road or in the fields, but the follow- 

 ing^ course of instruction should be r>-iven in some 

 quiet and retired place — preferably in a covered 

 school, where there will be nothing to distract 

 the attention of the horse. I have heard it said 

 that the education of a school-trained horse must 

 be agfain undertaken when the animal is used 

 in the open ; but such has not been my experi- 

 ence, although, as is natural, horses may be at 

 first somewhat timid at stranore siohts and sounds. 

 But even though a horse should find many things 



