TRAINING. 95 



horse would be made worse by a wrong disposition 

 of the weights and forces. 



The rider must know how to demand balanced 

 and united action from the extremities of his 

 horse, and how to remedy natural defects, so 

 that such action may be produced in animals that 

 are not naturally well balanced. For until union 

 and balance can be obtained between the forces 

 of the extremities the rider cannot have complete 

 and immediate control over the horse, nor can 

 the animal move smoothly, lightly, and freely. 



The powers of the aids in correcting defects of 

 conformation are almost unlimited, and there are 

 few animals which cannot be taught to carry a rider 

 with grace and lightness. Some of the most agree- 

 able horses I ever rode were not such as would, 

 according to the general opinion, be held suitable 

 for the saddle. Of the ill-formed horses, those that 

 are low at the withers and strong and high In the 

 croup require, I have found, the greatest amount of 

 labour to bring to a satisfactory state of balance; 

 while the ewe-necked horse, that tries to carry Its 

 head up In the rider's face, is usually taught a good 

 bearing without trouble, and, according to my ex- 

 perience, they almost Invariably make very llo-ht 

 and obedient horses, provided, of course, that they 

 are not absolutely deficient in the hind-quarters. 



