180 THE HORSE. 



lar conviction of the equal use and security of jockey 

 equitation, for en dernier ressort, the forms of both 

 seats must give way to holding fast, by whatever 

 means : I am so far from wishing the abolition of 

 riding schools, that I would rather see them increased, 

 not merely for military, but general use. A system 

 of demi-menage, including; all that is useful of the 

 grand system, would form military chargers, sup- 

 posing the horses naturally adapted, with action suf- 

 ficiently lofty and grand for the most ostentatious : 

 horses for the ranks also, perfectly qualified, and 

 those for general use, more graceful, safe and plea- 

 sant, than we at present find them. These last ought 

 to come out of the riding schools with a moderately 

 tempered mouth, and no further put together than to 

 render them safe. There are some loose formed 

 horses, however, leaving their legs behind them, which 

 might probably receive benefit from the uniting pro- 

 cess of the menage ; and those with ill-formed and 

 reversed necks, would receive at school their only 

 possible improvement, that of a good mouth. I have 

 before given the caution that, in general, most horses 

 out of training, should previously to their being rid- 

 den on the road or field, be sent to the riding house, 

 and be set moderately upon their haunches ; for how- 

 ever good their mouths may be, they have been too 

 much accustomed to the longeing form of going to 

 be either pleasant or safe upon the road." — History 

 of the Horse, p. 206. 



