THE REASONED EQUITATION 



At the beginning of this work, in order to make 

 the horse understand the compound effect, it will 

 be necessary to carry the right hand over little by 

 little and to cease the fingering of that hand. Do 

 not demand too much flexion at first. The slightest 

 inclination of the head should be rewarded, and the 

 head turned straight. 



The object of these flexions is to make it possible 

 to shift the weight borne by either fore leg on to the 

 other, always on the side away from the movement 

 of the head. Thus, if the flexion is to the left, the 

 load transfers to the right front leg; and vice versa. 

 It may happen that, when everything is otherwise 

 correct, the horse will paw the ground with the foot 

 on the side toward which the flexion has been made. 

 This is natural, and not a serious fault. Neverthe- 

 less, it is something which the horse does on its own 

 initiative, not in obedience to the rider; and it is, 

 therefore, not to be permitted. Moreover, the horse 

 may learn to paw only, without making the flexion. 

 Furthermore, the horse should not champ the bit 

 under the fingering of the right hand. It should, at 

 the indication of the right hand, complete the direct 

 flexion of the mouth; while at the same time it 

 makes the flexion of the neck to the left and returns 

 straight again, and vice versa for flexion to the right, 

 as shown in Figure 6 and discussed under " Descent 

 of the Hand." 



Do not, therefore, accept motion of the lower 

 jaw to right or left. This is not correct. The flexion 



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