FALSE AXD TRUE YIELDING. 55 



horse changes of his own accord the position of his 

 head, the backward movement of his body would pre- 

 cede and be accompanied by a shifting of the weight 

 backwards. In this case, the contraction of his neck 

 remains all the while the same The second kind of 

 yielding, which contributes so greatly to the rapid and 

 certain education of the horse, consists in giving a half or 

 three-quarter tension to the reins, then to sustain the 

 hand as forcibly as possible without bringing it near 

 the body. In a short time the force of the hand, sec- 

 onded by the continued pressure of the legs, will make 

 the horse avoid this slight but constant pressure of the 

 bit, but by means of his head and neck only. Then the 

 rider will only make use of the force necessary to dis- 

 place the head. It is by this means that he will be able 

 to place the horse's body on a level, and will obtain that 

 equilibrium,* the perfect balance of which has not 

 hitherto been appreciated. 



Resuming what we have just explained in th* case of 

 a horse w^ho rests his chin on his breast, we repeat that 

 it is by producing one force from the rear to the front 

 with the legs, and another from below upwards with the 

 hand, that we will soon be enabled to improve the posi- 



• The word equilibrium, so often repeated in the course of this vrork, 

 must be categorically explained. People have never rightly understood what 

 it means, this true equilibrium of a horse, which serves as the basis of his 

 education, and by which he takes instantly, at the rider's will, such a pace, 

 or such a change or direction. 



It is not here a question of the equilibrium which prevents the horse from 

 falling down, but of that upon which depends his performance, when it is 

 prompt, graceful and regular, and by means of which his paces are either 

 measured or extended at will. 



Equilibrium of Baucker. 



Croup — — Sead. 



Here the weight and the forces are equally distributed. By means of this 

 just distribution the different positions, the different paces, and the equili- 

 briums that belong to them, are obtained without effort on the part of 

 man or horse. 



