DEPRESSION OF NECK. 3g3 



directly tlie muscles which join the head to the neck. As the 

 head ought to precede and determine the different attitudes of 

 the neck, it is indispensable that the latter part be always in 

 subjection to the former, and respond to every impulse conveyed 

 to it. This would be only partially the case, should we produce 

 flexibility in the neck alone, which would then force the head 

 to obey it, by drawing the latter along in its movements. The 

 cause appears, therefore, why I at first experienced resistance, 

 in spite of the pliability of the neck, of which I could not ima- 

 gine the cause. The followers of my method, to whom I have 

 not yet had an opportunity of making known the new means 

 just explained, will learn with pleasure that this process not 

 only brings the flexibility of the neck to a greater degree of per- 

 fection, but saves much time in flnishing the suppling. The 

 exercise of the jaw, while fashioning the mouth and head, also 

 induces flexibility of the neck, and accelerates the getting of the 

 horse in hand. 



This exercise is the first of our attempts to accustom the 

 forces of the horse to yield to those of the rider. It is necessary 

 then to manage it very nicely, so as not to discourage him at 

 first. To enter on the flexions roughly would be to shock the 

 animal's intelligence, who would not in that case have time to 

 comprehend what is required of him. The opposition of the 

 hands will be commenced gently but firmly, nor cease until 

 perfect obedience is obtained ; except, indeed, the horse back 

 against a wall, or into a corner ; but it will diminish or increase 

 its efi'ect in proportion to the resistance, in such a way as always ' 

 to govern it, but not with too great violence. The horse which 

 will not at first submit without difficulty, will' in the end come 

 to regard the man's hand as an irresistible regulator, and will 

 accustom himself so completely to obey it, that we shall soon 

 obtain, by a simple pressure of the rein, what at first required 

 the whole strength of our arms. 



At each renewal of the lateral flexions, some progress will 

 be made in the obedience of the horse. As soon as his first re- 

 sistances are a little diminished, we must pass to the perpen- 

 dicular flexions or depression of the neck. 



The man will place himself as for the lateral flexions of 

 the jaw; he will take hold of the reins of the snaffle with the 



