70 ORDINARY RIDING. 



course, that he does not play up, which he will very rarely do 

 if I require almost nothing from him. 



If he carries his head too low, I try to raise it by almost 

 imperceptible touches on the snaffle reins, which I draw 

 upwards, and not from front to rear. If he holds his head too 

 high, I feel the curb reins very lightly, and in such a way as 

 not to stop his forward movement. If he stops on account of 

 the action of the curb, I let the reins loose and apply my legs 

 behind the girths. In this case the legs have an effect similar 

 to that of the cutting whip during work on foot. I keep on 

 at the horse until I have obtained forward movement which 

 is the great end that has to be obtained at any price. 



Having obtained this forward movement, I prolong it, as I 

 have said, for a few turns round the school, while trying to get 

 the head into a good position ; but I work very lightly, and 

 always in such a manner as not to stop the horse. If I obtain 

 only a little play in the mouth, I get off, and make a few 

 flexions on foot until he obeys. I then give him some carrots 

 and send him to the stable. 



Carrots ought always to be cut lengthwise and never across, 

 in which case they might stick in the animal's throat. I have 

 seen a horse almost choked by swallowing carrots cut across. 

 I do not give sugar to a horse, because if he is bridled and 

 plays with his bit, it will produce a foam that will soil one's 

 clothes, which is the smallest objection. A more serious one 

 is that sugar given in the stable predisposes a horse to crib- 

 bite. He begins by licking his manger, and, finding the taste 

 agreeable, he finishes by persistently biting it, which is a habit 

 that will often make him crib-bite or wind-suck. 



In this mounted lesson, I have asked the horse only to go 

 forward, while making him lightly work his jaw. Further, as a 

 general rule, we should not demand from him several things at a 

 time.because he will be apt to confuse them,and we may mistake 

 for disobedience a simple want of comprehension on his part. 



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