EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 55 



has the drawback of producing mouths with Uttle feehng, 

 we guarantee that it is less difficult to supple a part that 

 presents stiffness than to make a part firm where all 

 resistance is lacking. 



To attain this bearing on the bit the following schedule 

 should be followed : 



(1) Ride the horse with the reins in both hands, placing 

 the snaffle rein outside, under the little finger. (See 

 Question XXV.) 



(2) At first, during work at a walk and later during 

 work at a trot, ride the horse with the curb rein alone; 

 the reins may be held in one hand or in both hands. 



(3) Finally adopt the ordinary method of holding the 

 reins. 



With each of these different methods of holding the 

 reins the horse must be made to repeat simple move- 

 ments wath w^hich he is already familiar. 



Moreover, the horse should be frequently put back on 

 the snaffle alone and be ridden at extended gaits in order 

 to restore the confidence that he may have lost in begin- 

 ning lessons on the curb. 



During this preparatory period the legs play an impor- 

 tant role. It is essential that the curb bit should produce 

 upon the horse no slowing or backing effect and that the 

 forward movement produced by the legs should overcome 

 any tendency in the other direction which might be the 

 result of the first use of this bit. 



Bending lessons. — ^As previously stated, bending les- 

 sons should not be begun until the horse has become 

 thoroughly accustomed to his new mouthpiece and 

 fearlessly accepts contact of both bit and chain. 



Before setting forth a schedule of bendings, it will be 

 advisable to cite the following principles relating thereto : 



(1) Never slacken the gait during bending lessons. 

 The hand does not pull the horse back; the legs push him 

 forward until he encounters the bit when a bending 

 results. 



