370 THE hoesp:. 



then cease the tension of the reins, bnt at the same time he mnst 

 not permit the liead to leave it^^ position. If he lets it return at 

 all to its natural situation, it should only be to draw it back 

 again, and to make the animal understand that the perpendicular 

 position of the head is the only one allowed when under the 

 rider's hand. He should, at the outset, accustom the horse to 

 cease backing at the pressure of the legs, as all backward move- 

 ments would enable him to avoid the eifects of the hand, or 

 create new means of resistance. 



This is the most important flexion of all ; the others tended 

 principally to pave the way for it. So soon as it is executed 

 with ease and promptness, so soon as a slight touch is sufficient 

 to place and keep the head in a perpendicular position, it will 

 prove that the suppleness is completely effected, the conti-action 

 destroyed, and lightness and equilibrium established in the fore- 

 hand. The direction of this part of the animal will, hencefor- 

 ward, be as easy as it is natural, since we have put it in a con- 

 ditioiw to receive all the influences we desire to convey to it, 

 and instantly to yield to them without effort. 



As to the functions of the legs, they must support the 

 hind parts of the horse, in order to obtain the bringing in of the 

 nose to the chest in such a way that he may not be able to 

 avoid the effect of the hand by a retrograde movement of his 

 body. This complete getting in hand is necessary, in order to 

 drive the hind legs under the centre. In the first case, we act 

 upon the forehand; in the second, upon the hind parts; the 

 first serves for aflecting the perpendicular position of the head, 

 the second for bringing the haunches under him. 



I published four editions of my Method, without devoting a 

 special article to the combination of eflects. Although I myself 

 made a very frequent use of it, I had not attached suflicient im- 

 portance to the great necessity of this principle in the case of 

 teaching ; later experiments have taught me to consider it of 

 more consequence. 



The combination of effects means the continued and ex- 

 actly opposed forces of the hand and the legs. Its object should 

 be to bring back again into a position of equilibrium all the parts 

 of the horse which depart from that position, in order to prevent 

 him from going ahead, without backing him, and vice versa ; 



