EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 75 



in line, follow them about, at first at a distance, gradually 

 approaching and finally eating their oats in the ranks. 



However, it is not necessary to enter into minute de- 

 scriptions of details. It will suffice if the following caution 

 is observed: 



Avoid a struggle by starting at a distance from the dis- 

 mounted men and do not insist brutally on the occasion of 

 a horse's first fright. 



Swimming exercises. — Swimming exercises are diffi- 

 cult to carry out, and the results obtained are not always 

 commensurate with the danger to which the men are 

 exposed. 



If, however, the horses must be made to swim, the fol- 

 lowing schedule should be followed : 



(1) Make the horse swim, holding him at the end of a 

 longe attached to the halter. In this way you will be 

 more certain to avoid any jerks that would cause him to 

 make false movements. This remark is very important, 

 for if a horse in the water is brought up short he will 

 splash in his struggles and may easily lose his head 

 completely. 



(2) After the horses exhibit a certain amount of confi- 

 dence, they should be mounted, bareback and in snaffle 

 bridle, by men who are excellent swimmers, and then 

 taken across a rather narrow stream. In order to have 

 this exercise carried out under favorable conditions, the 

 banks of the stream should have a gentle slope so that 

 the horse can enter the water gradually, get out without 

 difficulty and not be forced to swim more than a few 

 yards. 



(3) The same exercise is repeated once or twice only, 

 with the horses saddled and bridled. 



