THE SCIENTIFIC EQUITATION 



cannot be told in advance. Each horse has its 

 peculiar sensibility, which must be discovered by 

 experiment. 



When the jambette both to the right and to the 

 left is obtained by means of the snaffle, it is asked 

 in the same way by the bit. When everything is 

 thoroughly mastered with the trainer on foot, the 

 latter mounts, and repeats the exercise by partial 

 flexions of the neck, without using the whip. If, 

 however, the horse does not understand when first 

 mounted, it can be helped out by touches of the 

 whip on shoulder or leg. But the whip should be 

 eliminated as soon as possible. 



Another way of obtaining the same jambette is to 

 begin mounted. It is evident that, with the horse 

 standing, a partial flexion of the neck to the right 

 will shift on to the left fore leg the weight formerly 

 carried by the right fore leg. This, therefore, being 

 unloaded, tends to be raised from the ground. If, 

 now, the trainer, at the first sign of this lifting, 

 rewards the horse with caresses, the latter will very 

 soon comprehend what is wanted; and, at the par- 

 tial flexion of the neck, will hold up the right fore 

 leg. (Figure 27.) The same means reversed operates 

 to secure the elevation of the left fore leg. 



During this practice on the jambettes, the rider's 

 legs maintain the horse standing and straight, and 

 prevent movement backwards. Here, then, are the 

 principles which obtain the flexion at the scapulo- 

 humeralis articulation. 



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