RESTING THE CHIN ON BREAST. 3^1 



finally, it serves to prevent any movement from the right to the 

 left, or from the left to the right. By this means, also, we distri- 

 bute the weight of the mass equally on the four legs, and produce 

 temporary immobility. This combination of effects ought to pre- 

 cede and follow each exercise within the graduated limit assign- 

 ed to it. It is essential when we employ the aids, i. e., the hand 

 and the legs in this, that the action of the legs should precede 

 that of the hand, in order to prevent the horse from backino- 

 against any place ; for he might find, in this movement, points of 

 support that would enable him to increase his resistance. Thus, 

 all jnotion of the extremities, proceeding from the horse himself, 

 should be stopped by a combination of effects ; finally, when- 

 ever his forces get scattered, and act inharmoniously, the rider 

 will find in this a powerful and infallible corrective. 



It is by disposing all the parts of the horse in the most 

 exact order, that we shall easily transmit to him the motive im- 

 pulse which should cause the regular movements of his extremi- 

 ties ; it is thus also that we address his comprehension, and that 

 he is made to appreciate what we demand of him ; then will 

 follow caresses of the hand and voice as a moral effect ; they 

 should not be used, though, until after he has done what is de- 

 manded of him by the rider's hand and legs. 



AYhen the horse naturally brings in his chin too closely 

 on his breast, although but few are disposed by nature to do 

 this, it is not the less necessary to practise on them all the 

 flexions, even the one which bends down the neck. In. this po- 

 sition, the horse's chin comes back near the breast, and rests in 

 contact with the lower part of the neck ; too high a croup, joined 

 to a permanent contraction of the muscles that lower the neck, 

 is generally the cause of it. These muscles must then be sup- 

 pled in order to destroy their intensity, and thereby give to the 

 muscles which raise the neck, their antagonists, the predomi- 

 nance which will make the neck rest in a graceful and useful 

 position. This first accomplished, the horse will be accustomed 

 to go forward freely at the pressure of the legs, and to respond 

 without abruptness or excitement, to the touch of the spurs ; 

 the ol)ject of these last is to bring the hind legs near the centre, 

 and to lower the croup. The rider will then endeavor to raise 

 the horse's head by the aid of the curb-reins ; in this case, the 



