38 NEW METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



perpendicular, until it sustains itself without assistance 

 in this position. The horse by champing the bit will 

 show his being in hand as well as his perfect submis- 

 sion. The man, to reward him, will cease drawing on 

 the reins immediately, and after some seconds will allow 

 him to resume his natural position. (Plate II.) 



The flexion of the jaw to the left is executed upon the 

 same principles and by inverse means to the flexion to the 

 right, the man being careful to pass alternately from one 

 to the other. 



The importance of these flexions of the jaw is easily 

 understood. The result of them is to prepare the horse 

 to yield instantly to the lightest pressure of the bit^ and 

 to supple directly the muscles that join the head to the 

 neck. As the head ought to precede and determine the 

 different attitudes of the neck, it is indispensable that the 

 latter part be always in subjection to the other, and re- 

 spond to its impulsions. That would be only partially 

 the case with the flexibility of the neck alone, which 

 would then make the head obey it, by drawing it along 

 in its movements. You see, then, why at first I experi- 

 enced resistances, in spite of the pliability of the neck, of 

 which I could not imagine the cause. The followers of 

 my method to whom I have not yet had an opportunity 

 of making known the new means just explained, will 

 learn with pleasure that this process not only brings the 

 flexibility of the neck to a greater degree of perfection, 

 but saves much time in finishing the suppling. The exer- 

 cise of the jaw, while fashioning the mouth and head, 

 brings along with it the flexion of the neck, and accele- 

 rates the getting the horse in hand. 



This exercise is the first of our attempts to accustom 

 the forces of the horse to yield lo ours. It is necessary, 

 then, to manage it very nicely, so as not to discourage 



