34 EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 



cision as to schedule upon the deportment, conformation, 

 and general condition of his horses. Horses in poor con- 

 dition, those that fret and that throw too much weight 

 upon the hind quarters should be taken out frequently. 

 Clumsy horses and those that throw the weight on the 

 forehand should receive most of their work in the hall. 



Choice of ground. — If possible, soft ground should be 

 selected. On hard ground the fetlock joints become 

 fatigued and the lower legs are liable to injury; the horse 

 develops windpuffs and splints. But it would be wrong 

 to work over heavy ground; the hocks would suffer and 

 eventually spavins would appear. 



When training has been completed, good results may 

 be obtained by riding a horse with loose reins over bad 

 roads. This forces the horse to take the initiative and as 

 he is allowed complete freedom of the head, he easily gets 

 out of difficulties even on very bad ground. 



Gaits. — In outdoor rides there should be alternation 

 of the walk and trot, gradually increasing at each outing 

 the amount of time devoted to the trot. Toward the end 

 of the period of training the distances at a trot should be 

 lengthened; but there should always be intervals of at 

 least ten minutes at a walk to allow the horse to resume 

 his normal breathing. 



The gallop should not be used in outdoor work except 

 upon very good ground. If you have available only bad 

 or fair footing, do not gallop. By rigidly enforcing a 

 schedule, regardless of conditions, the result will inevit- 

 ably be injury to the animals. In any case, galloping 

 should not begin outside until the rider is sure of his ability 

 to make his horse lead off freely with either foot. He 

 can then work his mount equally on both sides and can 

 avoid those struggles that put a horse in the air during 

 the whole ride. 



Sweats. — A horse should not be sweated at the begin- 

 ning of training, at least not until his disposition has been 



