194 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



balanced, unless nature has done it for him, to 

 enable him to go lightly in front when required, in 

 order that he may be a pleasant ride. 



To be at his best zi'hcn ridden the horse must in- 

 stinctively balance himself at all paces and in all 

 situations, aiid educating him to do this may be 

 termed the alpha and omega of horse training. 



The colt instinctively learns how to balance him- 

 self from birth : by raising or lowering the head 

 and neck he shifts his balance backwards and for- 

 wards and does not feel his weiglit any more than 

 we do ours ; but when he is backed his conformation 

 makes all the difference to his ability to adjust him- 

 self to the new conditions. He has now to carry 

 some 150 lbs. placed above and behind his normal 

 center of gravity, and this and the undeveloped con- 

 dition of the muscles of his back and limbs accounts 

 for his awkward gait when first mounted. If a 

 horse is well made, equilibrium comes to him easily 

 when mounted, and his muscles strengthen in the 

 proper proportion, providing that he is properly 

 ridden. If, however, he has not been kindly treated 

 by nature, we must, as far as she will allow it, help 

 him to lighten his forehand at the trot and canter 



