PLACING THE HORSE 



For these reasons, also, the scientific equitation 

 insists on the absolute necessity of giving to the 

 horse a factitious equilibrium in place of that which 

 comes by instinct; not only in order to prevent 

 disobedience, but also to remedy faults of con- 

 formation by a due combination of the animal's 

 forces at the center of gravity. The entire education 

 of the horse is, indeed, toward this result. 



When the center of gravity is established, the 

 horse is in a condition of equilibrium. The weight 

 of the man, combining with that of the animal, be- 

 comes, by its position, an essential element in main- 

 taining the center of gravity, in direct ratio to the 

 displacement of this new force, forward, backward, 

 to right or left of the perpendicular. If the man's 

 weight shifts forward, the excess compels the horse 

 to advance a base of support in order to prevent 

 the fall. In this case, the center of gravity does not 

 alter; the change is of the momentum. It is the 

 same with movement backward, or to right or left, 

 always supposing that the horse keeps its state of 

 equilibrium. 



