RIDING AND TRAINING. 97 



exactly how the head should be carried to keep the 

 horse light and balanced, but in these early lessons 

 the form of the horse will show whether the head 

 should be carried high or low. 



If the horse be too high in the forehand, that part 

 should be lowered in proportion to the want of height 

 in the croup. If the forehand be too low, the head 

 and neck will be carried up, so that the centre of 

 gravity will be driven to the rear, or the forces of 

 the croup will dominate those of the forehand and 

 make that part loaded and heavy. In the old 

 manage systems everything was done to throw the 

 weights upon the croup, and all of the movements 

 were founded upon the pesade, where the horse took 

 its weight upon the haunches. The first object in 

 modern training is so to equalise and balance the 

 weights that no part of the horse bears an undue 

 portion of the mass, and in consequence every 

 movement of the horse is made with freedom, light- 

 ness, and grace. 



The flexions of the jaw and neck, above described, 

 should be practised frequently, both at the begin- 

 ning and the end of each daily lesson. 



The horse should also be made to bend his head 

 to the right and left with the curb bit, in such a 

 manner that the whole of the head and neck shall 

 be suppled and controlled. To bend the head to 



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