THE REASONED EQUITATION 



the forward impulse of his legs. But if the legs 

 produce a greater impulse than the hand can 

 receive, the center of gravity will pass to the fore 

 hand. Contrawise, if the hand produces a greater 

 effect than the legs can overcome, the center of 

 gravity will shift to the hind legs, and the forward 

 impulse will be lost. In either case there is lack of 

 accord. Again, suppose that the rider wishes to 

 carry his horse forward at a walk. If thereupon the 

 legs produce so powerful an effect that the hand 

 cannot receive it, the horse will take the trot. Legs 

 and hand, rider and horse, are not in accord. 



Not only, however, must the rider's effects be in 

 accord with one another in order to obtain the gait 

 or the movement asked, they must, in addition, be 

 in accord with the nature and energy of the horse. 

 The rider, therefore, to obtain any particular 

 movement, has to ask that particular movement by 

 adjusting accurately his effects to that movement, 

 not to some other. Otherwise, horse and man are 

 not in accord, because the man's effects do not 

 match his special demand. 



THE CENTER OF GRAVITY 



THE center of gravity of any body is that point 

 upon which the body will balance in all positions. 

 The balance of our own bodies upon the legs, 

 which support the weight and prevent it from fall- 

 ing to the ground at each step, is so familiar and 

 instinctive that we fail to appreciate it or to reflect 



176 



