ON THE PACES OF THE HORSE.
THE WALK.
Of all the paces, the walk is the easiest to the rider, provided he sits in the centre of his horse’s back, as it consists of an alternate depression of the fore and hind quarters.
The motion may be compared to the vibration of the beam of a pair of scales. The walk should be light, firm, and quick; the knee must be moderately bent, the leg should appear suspended in the air for an instant, and the foot fall perfectly flat to the ground.
It is very difficult to confine young and mettlesome horses to a walk; great good temper, with a firm light hand, are requisite to accomplish this. When such horses change to a trot they should be stopped for a minute or two, and then allowed to proceed again. If the animal carries his head well, ride him with a moderately loose rein, raising the hand when he tries to break into a trot.
THE TROT.
The trot is allowed, by professionals, to be the only just basis upon which equestrians can ever attain a secure and graceful seat, combined with confidence and firmness. The rider has more control over the motions of his body in this pace than any other: in this the body is well brought down into the saddle by its own weight, and finds its true equilibrium. When the rider wishes to make his horse trot, let him ease his reins and press the calves of his legs gently; when his horse is at a trot, let him feel both his reins, raise his horse’s forehand, and keep his haunches well under him.
THE CANTER.
The rider must have a light and firm feeling of both reins to raise his horse’s forehand; at the same time, with a pressure of both calves, to bring the animal’s quarters well under him, having a double feeling of the inward rein, and a strong pressure of the outward leg, to cause him to strike off in unison.
At all times the horse should be taught to lead off with EITHER fore leg; by doing so his legs will not be so much shaken, especially the off fore leg, which is the one he most generally leads off on. This must be the case when he is continually throwing the greater part of his weight upon the leading fore leg, as it comes to the ground, which causes lameness of the foot, and strains the back sinews of the legs. Being thoroughly taught to change his legs, the horse is better enabled to perform long journeys, with facility and comfort both to himself and his rider.
TURNING.
In the turn either to the right or left, the reins must be held quite evenly, so that the horse may be immediately made to feel the aid of the rider’s hands; he (the rider) must then have a double feeling on the inward rein, also retaining a steady feeling on the outward; the horse being kept up to the hand by a pressure of both legs, the outward leg being the stronger.
REINING BACK.
The rider should frequently practise reining back, which is of the utmost service both to himself and his horse: by it, the rider’s hand is rendered firm and materially strengthened; and the pliancy of wrist so essential to the complete management of the horse is achieved, likewise causing the body of the rider to be well thrown back and his chest expanded, thus forcing, and preserving, an erect position in the saddle. Also, the carriage of the horse becomes greatly improved; his head is maintained in its correct position, and he is compelled to work correctly on his haunches.
In “reining back,” the horseman requires a light and steady feeling of both reins, a pressure of both legs, so as to raise his horse’s forehand and keep his haunches well under him, at the same time easing the reins, and feeling them again after every step.
STOPPING.
None are thoroughly taught until quite AU FAIT in the stop. It is of far greater importance than may be usually imagined. In the first place, it shows the horse to be well under COMMAND, especially when the rider is able to do so instantaneously: it saves in the second place, many serious and inevitable accidents from carriages, horsemen, &c., such as crossing before suddenly pulling up, turning quickly round a corner, or coming unawares upon the rider.
Care must be taken to make the STOP steadily; not by a sudden jerk upon the bit; by doing so the horse, if “tender mouthed,” will be made to rear and plunge. To make the horse stop properly, the bridle-hand must be kept low, and the knuckles turned down. The rider’s body must be well thrown back; he must have a steady feeling of both reins, and, closing both legs for a moment, so keep his horse well up to hand. N. B.—The rider’s hands always must be eased as soon as halted.
LEAPING.
Much depends upon the manner of bringing a horse up to the leap; he should be taken up straight and steady to it, with the reins held in each hand—they must be kept low, with the curb-rein held loosely. The rider’s body should be kept erect, pliant, and easy in its movements. As the animal is in the act of rising in his leap and coming again to the ground, the rider’s body must be well thrown back.
The sitting of a leap, well, is entirely dependent upon the proper balance of the body; thereby the weight is thrown correctly into the saddle, and thus meets the horse’s movements.
THE STANDING LEAP.
Let the rider take up his horse at an animated pace, halt him with a light hand upon his haunches; when rising at the leap, the rider should only just feel the reins, so as to prevent them becoming slack, when he springs forward, yielding them without reserve; as, at the time, the horse must be left quite at liberty. As the horse’s hind feet come to the ground, the rider must again collect him, resume his usual position, and move on at the same pace. His body must be inclined forward as the horse rises, and backwards as he alights.
FLYING LEAP.
The horse must not be hurried, but taken up at a brisk pace, with a light and steady hand, keeping his head perfectly steady and straight to the bar or fence. This position is the same as in the standing leap; and the aids required are the same as for making a horse canter.
If held too tight in the act of leaping, the horse is likely to overstrain himself, and fall. If hurried at a leap, it may cause him to miss his distance, and spring too soon, or too late; therefore his pace must be regulated, so that he may take his spring distant enough, and proportionate to its height, so that he may clear it.
When nearing the leap the rider must sit perfectly square, erect, pliant, and easy in the act of leaping; on arriving at the opposite side of the leap, throw the body well back, and again have the horse well in hand.
SWIMMING A HORSE.
The rider must take up and cross his stirrups, which will prevent the horse from entangling himself or his rider; should he commence plunging and struggling in the water, then quite loosen the curb-reins, and scarcely feel the bridoon; any attempt to guide the horse must be made by the slightest touch of the rein possible.
The rider also must have his chest as much over the horse’s withers as he can, and throw his weight forward, holding on by the mane, to prevent the rush of water from carrying him backwards.
Should a horse appear distressed, a person unable to swim may, with great safety, hold firmly by the mane, and throw himself out flat on the water; by those means he relieves the animal from his weight, and the horse coming once more into his depth, the rider may again recover his position in the saddle.
BOLTING, OR RUNNING AWAY.
This dangerous habit is to be found very generally in nervous and young horses, who at the least noise, become alarmed, and try to escape; quickening their pace, they break from a trot to a gallop, until terrified with the impotent struggles of their riders to stop them, or the sound of wheels behind them, they become maddened, and dash on in their perilous career.
Once a horse finds he has succeeded in these efforts, on any recurrence of noise or cause of affright, he will pursue the same course, to the imminent peril of life, limb,—not only of the rider or driver,—but of whoever or whatever he may chance to meet in his impetuous flight. The habit at length becomes confirmed, and it is alone by the utmost nerve and coolness, tempered with firmness and kindness, that we may hope eventually to overcome the disease.
When a horse is known to have a disposition for running away, a firm, steady hold should be kept over him, at the same time speaking soothingly and encouragingly; but, at the least symptom, checking sharply and scolding him, and never allowing him to increase his pace of his own accord, as fear will oftentimes cause him at length to break into a gallop.
Either in riding or driving, the reins should be held firmly, and the horse had well in hand; but not by a constant pull to deaden the sensitiveness of his mouth; taking care occasionally to ease the reins and keep the mouth alive by a gentle motion of the bit, only just loosening them, so that on any symptom of running away or bolting, they may be caught up quickly, and the horse be well placed under command, without frightening him.
By a little judicious management in this way, with patience, kindness tempered with firmness, a cure in most cases will be completed in a short time.
In riding and driving horses addicted to running away, be very particular that all portions of the horse furniture be sound and strong, more especially the reins and BITS.
PART IV.
