CHAPTER XV 



THE FIRST WORK MOUNTED: THE HANDS 

 N AND THE AIDS 



ALL the work done up to this point has been merely 

 preparatory. Now the time has come for the horse 

 to be mounted, and for the whip to be replaced by 

 the aids and effects of the rider's legs. 



Other methodists, after completing the flexions 

 and the mobilization on foot, pass directly to the 

 flexions mounted. This I consider a serious error. 

 To mount a young animal, and to keep it standing 

 still during the time of its lesson on the various 

 flexions, is to offer far too many occasions for 

 nervous impatience and disorderly acts. Yet how 

 is the rider to prevent these? The horse does not 

 understand the aids. The effects of hands, legs, 

 and seat are ignored. The rider is at the mercy of 

 the animal's ignorance and caprice. 



To meet this difficulty, I have for many years 

 relied upon the following system: 



As soon as the preparatory work on foot is 

 completed, I mount the horse, and begin at once 

 the training in the aids, before proceeding to the 

 flexions standing still. First of all, I employ the 

 legs, so that I may be able to push the horse for- 

 ward against the contact of the bits. Not only do I 

 continue my teaching of the aids of legs without 



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