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not grasp, and to drag- in the dust and ridicule that, which to accomplish 

 they cannot even arouse their dull spirts to attempt. 



The public though, who is benefited by correct instruction and well 

 trained horses deserves to be enlightened on a subject, which is to 

 every horseman of the greatest importance. 



What does the term training a saddle horse imply? First, the phys- 

 ical development of the horse, such as will fit it as well as nature 

 permits for a destined purpose. Second, the generation of strength, 

 flexibility and endurance. Third, + he development of grace and beauty 

 of form and motion by adding to the natural faculties of the horse the 

 refined influence of artistic training. Fourth, the creation of a perfect 

 understanding between horse and rider, and the subsequent uncondi- 

 tional surrender of the first, to the will and impressions of the latter. 



The term School riding and School training, the high schoooland the 

 schools above the ground, are, though very plain and to the point, rarely 

 understood. 



They simply involve a series of schools or lessons which follow 

 each other systematicaly according to the nature of the horse and the 

 purpose for which it is intended. It is necesssary that we " as trainers'' 

 must understand the anatomy and the physiology of the horse in order 

 to appreciate difficulties and obstacles which nature has sometimes put 

 in our way. 



The disposition and the degree of sensitiveness of the horse, his age 

 and breeding must also be considered. 



The existence of this or that weakness or natural advantage is next 

 of importance. 



Talents and inclinations for this or that school will lead in no slight 

 degree to remarkable results in the hands of the trainer, who discovers 

 them. 



All horses have that, which art and training claim as their work, 

 in them by nature and there are strictly speaking no artificial gaits. 



Any one who has ever seen a horse turned loose and left to perfect 

 freedom, must have seen the majestic movements of a Spanish trot ex- 

 ecuted by the animal, even if it had never been ridden at all. 



Any one who has seen colts enjoy their youth and liberty has seen 

 them perform pirouettes tipon their haunches, such as only good riders 

 on well trained horses could reproduce. 



Furthermore we have all seen the difficult feats of the school above 

 the ground shown by horses who, feeling the unrestraint of perfect free- 

 dom will leap and kick, rear and plunge out ot pure delight. The weight of 

 rider, the tightly girthed saddle, the bits in the mouth and the con. 

 seiousness of being subject to human will, first prevent these voluntary 

 evolutions. 



It is the object in training the horse, to subordinate every faculty 

 with which nature has so lavishly endowed it, to the comfort, use, 

 pleasure and safety of the rider. 



To those who sneer ignorantly at the Spanish step, the redop (galop 

 on the spot) the piaffe or the capriole I would say this: why do athletes 

 go through such exercises as air springs, somersaults and others? Cer- 



