FIRST LESSONS. 245 



ical defects ; as with tliose which, in spite of their bad 

 conformation, are subjected by a bad system of train- 

 ing to a semblance of oUedience, we have to thank noth- 

 ing but the gentleness of their natures. K they consent 

 to submit to the simplest exercise, it is on condition that 

 we do not exact anything more difficult ; for they would 

 soon recover their energy to resist any further attempts. 



A well constituted horse is one, all of whose powers are 

 regularly harmonized, so as to bring about a perfect equi- 

 librium of the whole. 



If we once admit these truths : 



That the education of the horse consists in the complete 

 subjection of his forces ; 



That we can make use of his forces only by annulling 

 all of his involuntary resistances ; 



And, that these resistances have their source in the con- 

 tractions resulting from physical defects ; — 



It is only necessary to seek out those parts in which 

 these contractions operate, to combat them, and to cause 

 them to disappear. 



Whatever be the fault of conformation which prevents 

 a just disposition of the forces of the horse, it is always in 

 the neck that the most immediate effect is felt. There is 

 no false movement, no resistance, that is not preceded by a 

 contraction of this part ; and as the jaw is intimately con- 

 nected with the neck, a stiffness of the one is instantly 

 communicated to the other. These two points, are the prop 

 on which the horse depends to annul all of the efforts of 

 the rider. We can easily conceive of the immense ob- 

 stacles which they present, because the neck and the 

 head are the two principal levers by which Ave control 

 and direct the animal, and it is impossible to obtain any 

 influence over him so long as we do not entirely master 

 these two indispensable means of action. Behind, the parts 



