STIFFNESS OF NECK. 359 



communicated to it, they ought to give warning, and show by 

 their attitude the positions to be taken, and the movements to 

 be executed. Tlie rider has no power so long as they remain 

 contracted and rebellious; he disposes of the animal at will, 

 when once they become flexible and easily managed. If the 

 head and neck do not first commence the changes of direction, 

 ^f in circular movements the^ are not inclined in a curved line, 

 if in backing they do not bend back upon themselves, and if their 

 lightness be not always in harmony with the different paces at 

 which we wish to go, the horse will have it in his own power 

 to execute or to refuse these movements, since he will remain 

 master of the employment of his own forces. 



From the first moment I observed the powerful influence 

 exercised by the stiffness of the neck on the whole mechanism 

 of the horse, I attentively sought the means to remedj^ it. Re- 

 sistance to the hand acts always either sideways, ujjward or 

 downward. I at first imagined that the neck was the sole 

 source of these resistances, and applied myself to suppling the 

 animal by flexions, repeated in every direction. The result was 

 immense ; but although, at tlie end of a certain time, the sup- 

 plings of the neck rendered me perfectly master of the forces of 

 the fore-parts of the horse, I still found a slight resistance for 

 which I could not at first account. At last, I discovered that it 

 proceeded from the jaw. The flexibility I had communicated 

 to the neck even increased the effect of this stiffness of the 

 muscles of the lower jaw, by permitting the horse in certain 

 cases to escape the action of the bit. I then bethought me of 

 the means of combating these resistances in this, their last 

 stronghold, and from that moment it is there I have commenced 

 my work of suppling with that part. 



The first exercise is performed on foot, and gives the means 

 of making the horse come to the man, and rendering him steady 

 to mount and generally docile. 



Before commencing the exercises of flexions, it is essential 

 to give the horse a first lesson of subjection, and teach him to 

 recognize the power of man. The first act of submission, which 

 might appear unimportant, will have the effect of speedily ren- 

 dering liim calm, of giving him confidence, and of preventing 



