THE DEFENSES OF THE HORSE 



and weak, but with a well-proportioned neck and 

 good bars. The first horse, having ample strength 

 to carry its load, is a good deal at its ease. At the 

 beginning of its training, it will pull. But the hand 

 of the rider being fixed, the horse will very soon find 

 that pulling brings no relief to the sensation on the 

 bars. Thereupon, its jaw will more or less relax; 

 and since the rider's fingers now also relax, the 

 horse finds it profitable not to bear against the bit. 

 Meanwhile, the rider does not allow the horse to 

 take any initiative, but pushes it forward at will, 

 by the effects of his legs. Since the horse is well 

 conformed and carries the weight without too 

 much effort, it complies with the rider's wishes 

 without objection. 



Turn now to the other horse. Because of its 

 weakness in legs and spine, this animal cannot carry 

 its load without constraint and a general contrac- 

 tion of all its muscles, so that its balance becomes 

 disturbed. It stiffens the muscles of its neck. The 

 contraction spreads from the neck to the lower jaw. 

 The bars are set. The horse pulls against the hand, 

 and is called hard-mouthed. The longer the train- 

 ing continues, the harder-mouthed does it become, 

 up to the time when the gymnastic exercises have 

 developed its strength sufficiently for it to carry its 

 rider and execute its commands with ease and com- 

 fort. Then it becomes like the first horse. 



I hold my experience compels me to hold 

 that the well-bred, well-conformed horse, strong 



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