USUAL OR INSTINCTIVE EQUITATION 



This lateral equitation can be practiced by the 

 beginner by rule of thumb, without acquaintance 

 with the principles or theories of any formulated 

 method. But a learner makes faster progress and is 

 in less danger of accident when he puts himself 

 under a riding-master. The riding-master or the 

 riding-school will provide a horse already trained, 

 with all the needed apparatus. It is then not 

 necessary for the pupil to train the animal; but 

 only to learn to mount and dismount; to sit 

 properly on the horse when standing, walking, 

 trotting, or galloping, in a word, to make his seat; 

 and to control the horse by the lateral effect at 

 these different gaits, in any direction, without 

 losing the correct position. When the pupil has 

 acquired a sufficiently firm seat, he may practice 

 jumping. This will test his progress, and will also 

 show him what he has still to learn. My own long 

 experience proves to me that the rider's seat is the 

 foundation of his progress. Without seat, nothing 

 can be learned. With seat, everything, simple or 

 difficult, becomes possible. The cavalier can never 

 have too much of this sine qua non. Indeed, he can 

 never have enough. 



