168 Training the Saddle Horse 



the high-school horse, in addition to going all the 

 saddle gaits, is well trained in many fancy steps. 

 From time to time there is still another class of saddle 

 horses for which there is much demand, and is 

 for use in the army. These horses, in addition to 

 doing the ordinary saddle gaits, must be trained to 

 stand gun-fire, and some of them, more particularly 

 the scouting horses, to lie down when commanded. 



TRAINING TO THE GAITS 



Now that the horse is thoroughly familiar with the 

 use of the bit, — both snaffle and curb, — with whip and 

 spurs, and with the rider's legs in aiding and control- 

 ling the movements, and that we have a clear under- 

 standing of the movements of the various gaits, we 

 are prepared to teach the horse how to perform the 

 gaits. Let no one attempt to teach the gaits until all 

 of these requirements, on the part of both rider and 

 horse, have been met, for failure will surely result, 

 since the rider cannot teach that which he does not 

 understand, and the horse cannot learn until means 

 of communication have been established between the 

 rider and his mount. 



The walk. — Training to a true or collected walk 

 is a very important part of the saddle horse's educa- 

 tion, although it is perhaps the most neglected of all 

 gaits. To train the horse to walk, take the snaffle 

 rein in hand in such a manner as just to feel the ani- 



