THE REASONED EQUITATION 



From the invention of the bridle, the "in hand" 

 has been the subject of the researches, writings, 

 methods, and principles of the masters of every 

 epoch and age. A horse so placed has its head 

 perpendicular to the ground, and therefore parallel 

 to its fore legs. But, unhappily, the myology and 

 the physical structure of the horse, and the prin- 

 ciple of gravitation, have not always been as well 

 understood as now by these masters; with the 

 result that each one of them has created his own 

 "in hand." When we consider the saddles which 

 force the rider to sit bolt upright with the legs 

 extended downward like crutches, the severity of 

 the ancient bits, the heaviness of the horses, and 

 the movements demanded of them for tourney, 

 carrousel, and battle corps-a-corps, we understand 

 why the riders and masters favored so exaggerated 

 a position. Moreover, in earlier days the horse 

 carried his neck flexed at the fourth vertebra, more 

 to show its elegance than for reasons of utility. It 

 is only in our own time that the development of 

 racing has emphasized the idea of speed, and, 

 ignoring elegance, has altered the "in hand" to 

 the position which, while favoring obedience to 

 the rider's effects, does not interfere with the action 

 of the animal mechanism. 



All modern uses of the horse for riding ask the 

 "in hand." The scientific equitation asks also that 

 the head shall be "upon the hand." Baucher 

 required the horse to be " in front of the rider's legs 



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