CHAPTER IX 



TRAINING FOR RIDING 



(Continued) 



IF you have an opportunity take Disciple 

 as soon as possible on common, moor- 

 land or forest land. You will find your 

 horse's brain work extraordinarily interesting, 

 if he has not been in such surroundings before. 

 Leave him as much as possible to his own 

 devices, just guiding him from time to time 

 in the general direction you want, and watch 

 the ancestral traits. A horse's thoughts pour 

 through the channels that were most used by 

 his wild ancestors. Keep him at the walk 

 and leave him a loose rein, so that you may 

 take indications from him, and not he from 

 you. When he realises that he is on his own, 

 he will behave much as his ancestors did in 

 the same circumstances ; circumspectly and 

 scrutinisingly, as to potential and hidden 

 enemies ; questively, as regards his own kind. 

 He will examine every bush and clump ol 

 undergrowth carefully, giving them room to 

 be out of the " striking distance " of that 



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