THE SCIENTIFIC EQUITATION 



different joints and to make it understand the 

 meaning of these effects of hand, that we at length 

 obtain that complete command over the fore legs 

 which is the sine qua non of controlled locomotion. 



The same principles apply also to the horse's hind 

 legs. The rider's legs produce three different effects 

 according to their position on the horse's flanks. 

 Four inches behind the girths, pressure of the rid- 

 er's legs stimulates the horse's rear limbs to a move- 

 ment of impulsion forward. Near the girths, this 

 pressure maintains this action of the horse's hind 

 legs, equally forward, with the same elevation, and 

 at the same speed. But the rider's legs pressed 

 three inches back of the first position will draw the 

 horse's hind legs forward under its body, and result 

 in a position which brings the forward impulse to 

 a stop, or even produces motion backward. Only 

 by exercises suppling the hind legs do we make the 

 horse understand the meaning of these effects. 



There is no other name for these exercises for 

 suppling the limbs except the French name jam- 

 bettes, fromjambes, meaning legs. 



This exercise of the jambettes is, however, highly 

 useful for still another purpose. Since the horse's 

 equilibrium is the sine qua non of the equitation 

 savante, it is very necessary that the rider should be 

 able, at will, to place the fore legs of his mount 

 perpendicular to its body and to the ground. Con- 

 trol of each several limb by means of reins and legs 

 makes it possible for the cavalier to rectify immedi- 



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