138 ORDINARY RIDING. 



I will suppose that the rider is placed with his shoulder to 

 the wall and is going- to the right. The horse, which tries to 

 checkmate all the efforts the rider makes to keep him in 

 hand and in good position, begins for instance, to lean 

 against the rider's left leg {outward leg or direct leg). The 

 spur pricks him and forces him to give way. He then tries 

 to get behind his bit. In order to drive him Forward, it is 

 necessary to employ the right leg (outward leg or opposite 

 leg). As we hardly ever use the spur of the opposite leg, 

 from fear of straightening him, the horse will finish by press- 

 "ig against this leg and by saving himself by running to one 

 side, which will prevent us getting him in hand and regulating 

 his work on " two tracks." 



The remedy is simple. It is sufficient, when the horse 

 throws himself on the opposite leg, to attack him vigorously 

 with the spur of that side, in order to make him straighten 

 iiimself. We must adopt this plan each time the horse 

 throws himself to one side, which he will soon give up 

 doing. 



As we may see, the best system is to throw into disorder, 

 in order to establish order. This procedure, which is criticised 

 by all those who have not the audacity to practise it, is the 

 only one which incontestably establishes the power of the 

 breaker over the animal. By it, the horse learns that there are 

 insurmountable obstacles to the carrying out of his wishes. 

 That point being settled, if we keep him balancing between 

 reward and punishment, he is ours.* 



* Every horse which knows how to go on " two tracks ' ' makes an abuse of it. 

 When horses are accustomed to do demi-voltes and changes of hand on "two 

 tracks," they often put themselves sideways when their rider wishes them to do 

 these movements while holding them straight, and by this defence they escape 

 being rassemhlFd. By holding the horse straight, we make him bring his hocks 

 under his body, which is the very thing he tries to avoid doing by placing himself 

 sideways. The remedy is in the legs of the rider. Later on, when the breaking 

 nas been finished — the horse being kept at the rassembler in all the school move- 

 ments—he will not be able to obtain help from this defence. 



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