Lecture IV. 



STARTING AND STOPPING. 



When properly mounted, the pupil prepares the horse to start at 

 the command "walk forward," by -urging the same with the pressure 

 of both calves directly behind the girth, at the same time increasing the 

 tension on the reins by more firmly closing the fingers and a slight 

 downward bend of the wrist. 



This aid of the leg should not consist of a simple hugging of the 

 horse's flank, but of a repeated pulsation or swinging, commencing from 

 the knee down and executed with the heel in a depressed position. 



The strength of the aid depends upon the sensitivness of the horse 

 and the slighest degree should here, as in all cases, where aids of the 

 legs are required be applied, gradually increasing in force, until re- 

 sponded to. 



The horse, when urged in this manner, will throw its weight for- 

 ward and take hold of the bit. 



At the command "march " the tension on the reins is slightly less- 

 ened by relaxation of the fingers and the horse walks. 



Upon reaching the wall of the ring, the pupil turns the horse to the 

 right by pressing upon the right rein from the wrist and then continues 

 upon the right hand along the wall, on the track or within one yard of 

 the wall. 



The pupil should from the beginning be cautioned against the com- 

 mon mistake of looking down upon his horse's neck and his hands, 

 which in the course of time will injure his carriage and position in 

 general, and the exhaustion, which so frequently follows at the close 

 of the first lessons should be guarded against by complete relaxation 

 and the avoidance of an unnecessarily tight grip upon the reins and 

 sadddle. 



The rider should see straight ahead in the direction, which he 

 intends to follow. 



By sitting loosely and deeply into the saddle the pupil should learn 

 to feel the movements of the four legs of the horse and in the course of 

 time to be able, to distinguish the motions of each leg, fore and hind 

 separately. The development of this feeling is of great importance and 

 is best and soonest accomplished by letting the pupil count "one" ac- 

 companying the lifting and setting of the four feet. 



The active riding or prompting of the horses every motion, in oppo- 

 sition to the passive riding, or simple existence on horseback should 

 also be insisted upon at once by adopting a certain cadence, tempo or 

 rvthm for the gait of the horse and by calling upon the pupil to main- 

 tain the evenness or cause the changes of the same. 



In order to stop, the rider will again urge the horse to take hold of 

 the bit by the pressure of both legs and then gradully increase the 

 tension on the reins, until the horse is brought to a standstill, when the 

 reins shotild be relaxed. 



