XVII 



"WHAT TO TEACH 



" Now, in equitation there can be no divided empire, and the horse 

 will be master if the man is not." Whyte Melville. 



T F teaching the man to ride is an art, training 

 the horse is a much higher and more difficult 

 one, demanding expert knowledge, good horseman- 

 ship, abounding patience, ready resource, and a 

 quick, observant eye. The " colt without under- 

 standing " not only, as Berenger says, has to learn 

 the language of man, but must be gentled, mouthed, 

 and taught to go " balanced " in his paces. In addi- 

 tion to this his muscles and sinews must be so de- 

 veloped that when he is trained he is thoroughly 

 well fitted to do the work that will be demanded of 

 him. 



Balance as applied to a horse is not very gen- 

 erally understood in England, which may in some 

 degree account for the lack of it in many so-called 

 " trained animals." He should be permanently 



193 



