70 EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 



be buUheaded; you must begin again and take up the 

 analytical parts of the movement, going back to the 

 simple gallop leads. By insisting too strongly you teach 

 the horse to resist the reins and legs and destroy what 

 lightness he may have acquired. Moreover, the horse's 

 resistance proves that you are attempting the change of 

 lead too soon and that he is not yet up to it. 



Continuation of training — Work at the slow trot — 

 Gallop exercises. — Review the instructions given under 

 Question XVIII on what concerns the trot and what has 

 just been said about work at a gallop. Work at the slow 

 trot on the three lines will develop the strength and sup- 

 pleness of the horse; alternating gallop leads with short 

 intervals, exacted from the trot, the walk, the halt, and 

 when backing, will finally perfect his balance and obe- 

 dience ; he wdll then be well trained. 



But this work must not be abused. Riding-hall work 

 should be of short duration. The horse should be often 

 taken out, galloped over good ground and jumped over 

 obstacles. It must not be forgotten that the desirable 

 quahties in an officer's mount are that he shall he per- 

 fectly willing, go perfectly straight, and remain perfectly 

 calm, all of which qualities would disappear if he were 

 kept constantly shut up in a riding hall, working at slow 

 and shortened gaits. 



