INTRODUCTION

1

PREPARATORY REMARKS.

I. Introductory Remarks on the Health and Condition of the Horses - On Punishments, Obedience, Resistance, Weakness, Vice, Plunging, Rearing - How to fall clear of a Horse when he throws himself backwards - Starting - If a Horse turns round, how to proceed

4

II. Young Horses not to be kept together, but mixed up with the old Horses - Saddling - Physic - Telling off the Horses into Rides - A separate ride for the weak and young - Use of Cavesson and Dismounted Men - Manner of Mounting young Horses so as to avoid Accidents

6

To get the Horse to move forward

12

A light Bit - Description and Advantages - Horses' mouths equally sensitive to the power of the Bit - Severe Bits - Reasons for not using them

13

To make a Horse tractable and steady at Mounting

14

Dismounted Bending Lessons - Teaching the Horse to follow the indication of the reins, to yield to the pressure of the Bit, and to rein in - Mounted Bending Lessons, reining the Horses in - How to proceed with Horses that rein in too much - The "Appui," or necessary degree of bearing on the hand explained - A Horse "behind the hand" useless for a soldier - To teach a Horse to obey the Pressure of the Leg - Circling on the Forehand explained - Use of the Inward Leg, particularly in all Bending Lessons

15

How to teach a Horse to obey the Pressure of the Leg

20

Circling on the Haunches (or Pirouette,) explained - The best Horseman has the Advantage in a Contest on Horseback

23

Reining Back - Its use and how to get it properly done - The Spur - Its use explained, and how to apply it so as to perfect the Education of the Horse - How to unite the play of the Forehand and Haunches

24

How to Strike off a Horse to both Hands at a Canter - How to Change when False or Disunited

29

The Trot

29

Canter

30

Circling on the Forehand and Haunches - Reining Back and getting the Horses in hand with the use of the Spur - Perfecting them at their Trotting and Bending Lessons - Working "Shoulder In," "Half Passage" and "Passage" - Cantering

32

Lesson as in No. 4 - Using the Spur on the Move - Going about on the Haunches (Demi Pirouette) without touching the Ground with the Fore-feet - Cantering to both hands

34

The Lesson as in Nos. 4 and 5 - Reining Back and Using the Spur on the Move as Usual - Going about on Haunches - "On the Forehand About," - Cantering in Double Ride

35

Perfecting the Horses in the preceding Lessons - Changing leg and half passage at a Canter - Accustoming the Horses to sights and Sounds - Post Practice, &c., &c.

36

Attack and Defence by Fours - Spiral Figure - Picking up Heads off the Ground - Riding at Rings and Heads at Full Speed

38

Leaping how to be practised

40

How to accustom Horses to Stand Fire, Noises, &c., &c. - And to Teach a Horse to Stand Still whilst you Dismount to Fire

42

Short Explanation of the New System in Questions and Answers, for the Instruction of Non-commissioned Officers, Rough Riders, and Men

43

Monsieur Baucher's "Seize Nouveaux Airs de Manége"

47

Treating of the Performances of Horses at Liberty, and shewing how to make them Kneel, Lie Down, Sit at Table, Fetch and Carry, and how to make a Horse Limp in Imitation of a Lame Horse

55

First, on the Snaffle

8 days

One Lesson a day 3/4 of an hour.

" On the Bit

7

Two Lessons a day, 3/4 of an hour the morning lesson, the afternoon lesson a 1/4 of an hour; horses are merely bridled, and put through the Dismounted Bending Lessons.

Second"

7 days

Two Lessons a day 3/4 of an hour A.M.,

1/4 P.M.

Third"

7"

Two ditto 3/4"

1/4~

Fourth"

5"

Two ditto 3/4"

1/4"

Fifth"

7"

Two ditto 3/4"

1/4"

Sixth"

7"

One ditto1¹/₄"

Seventh"

14"

One ditto 1¹/₂"

Total 62 days.

PLATES.

FIG.

l

Frontispiece

2

Vignette. The Horse Trained to Stand whilst his Rider Dismounts to Fire.

3

Bending the Horse to the Right with the Bit.

4

Ditto ditto.

4a & 4b

Bending the Horse to Right and Left with the Snaffle and Bit Reins.

5

Reining in on Foot.

6

"Reining In," when Mounted, the Horse Resisting.
The Bend required is not complete till the horse brings his nose down to No. 10.

7

"Reining In," the Horse Yielding.
If the Horse with his nose up at No. 1, as in Plate 6, suppose a power of resistance to your hand equal to 100 lbs., that power will be reduced to 50 lbs., when his nose is brought to No. 6. The power of resistance diminishes at each degree until it ceases altogether at No. lO, and when there, the Horse can no longer resist the power of the bit; if he attempts to break away, he does so by first throwing his head up and keeping his nose in the air, as his instinct teaches him that it is the only position in which he has a chance of beating you.

8

"Circling to the Right on the Forehand," at first the Horse's head straight to the Front.

9

Ditto ditto, the Horse's head bent to the same side his haunches are coming round to.

10

How to teach a Horse to Go About on the Haunches.

11

The Horse in Hand, "Reining Back."

12

Trying to make a Horse Rein Back, by pulling at the Reins "without" using the Leg.

13

On the Haunches, Right About.

14

Pirouette to the Right.

15

1

The Young Horses Formed for their Mounted and Dismounted Bending Lessons.

2

Forming Divisions and Circling by Divisions to the Right.

3

By Divisions down the Centre.

4

Divisions Closing and Turning to the Right, Exchanging Cuts and Guards.

16

1

The Spiral Figure.

2

Picking up Basket Heads from the Ground and Riding at Rings and Heads at Speed.

17

1

Preparing to Pick up a Basket Head.

2

Throwing up the Last Head, and Bringing the Horse to a Canter.

18

1

First Point at Ring.

2

Second Point ditto.

19

1

Third Point at Head.

2

Cut 5 at Head.

20

1

Cut 6 at Head.

2

Cut 3 at Head.