VI. 



Importance of the straight ahead movement. — ^Above 

 everything else the horse must go freely straight ahead. 

 The lesson with this object in view must be the first of all 

 lessons; from the beginning of horse training the horse 

 must be accustomed to yield to the action of both legs. 

 This is essentially a sign of docility ; the full or the limited 

 obedience of the horse shown in this first test will be an 

 indication of a brief or a protracted period of training. 



To accustom the horse to go straight ahead under the 

 action of the legs. — The leg lesson is admittedly the 

 most important lesson, and there is good reason to return 

 to it during the whole period of training. For the first 

 occasion observe the following rules : 



Never keep the lower leg glued to the horse's flank, but 

 use repeated taps with the calves. 



Tap the horse near the girth and do not reach too far 

 back. 



Begin by giving the lesson when passing from the walk 

 to the trot, next when lengthening the trot, and finally 

 when passing from the halt to the trot. 



Anticipate and assist the action of the legs by clucking 

 with the tongue or by the use of light taps with the whip. 



These rules are especially applicable to riding-hall les- 

 sons, for in outside work on a road young horses have a 

 natural tendency to go straight ahead, following the old 

 horses at the head of the squad. 



Lightness — When to be exacted. — ^A horse is fight when 

 he obeys easily and promptly the indications of the rider. 

 This is not a question merely of flexibility of jaw and sup- 

 pleness of neck, but rather of balance, and in our opinion 



