HORSES TO JUMP 19 



consider a good mouth. We know that with 

 their methods they produce wonderful fencers 

 and show jumpers. 



Are we to accept their theories on training in 

 entirety? I think certainly not, although I 

 know many men who have done so both at 

 home and on the Continent. Again I ask for 

 moderation. 



To accept the Italian theory would mean that 

 one fails entirely to understand the true mean- 

 ing of " balance," although, as opposed to the 

 old haute dcole idea of balance, the Italian 

 method is obviously preferable. 

 The former was attained in a riding school 

 and produced permanent lightness in front in 

 all movements. The head and neck were 

 raised to the maximum height and then bent 

 from the poll. The higher the carriage of the 

 head the more accentuated the curve of the neck. 

 The haunches were continually kept well 

 under the horse to raise his forehand and 

 the head kept what was termed a fixed profile. 

 The horse became gradually muscle-bound 

 in his loins and shoulders. Balance of this 

 nature, or akin to this, prevented the horse 

 from using his powers of extension and accen- 

 tuated the difficulty of propelling the body 

 over a fence. 



