Cavalry horsemanship and horse training : (Responses an questionnaire D'Equitation de l'Ecole de cavalerie) online

shoulders are pressed back, the chest is pressed for-
ward, and the head is raised with an air of ease.

On the other hand, if the nails are downwards, the
elbows stick out, the shoulders come forward and close
in the chest, the head follows the movement of the
shoulders, and the eyes fall, whilst the seat tends to
slip backwards.

(c) The seat results from the position of the
buttocks ; they should be as far forward as possible,
without causing an exaggerated pressing down of the
backbone.

(d) If the knees are well turned in, the muscles
of the thighs find their place under the bone, which
fits in a natural position, flat against the saddle.
The placing of the knee regulates that of the foot
which assumes a normal position.

To sum up, the soldier should hold his head high,
and present, in his general attitude, straightness
without stiffness, and suppleness without slackness.

The Suppling Exercises. — It is obvious from what
has been stated that the suppling exercises play a
very important role in the instruction of the horse-
man, and also that their employment demands
peculiar tact. Used without order and method by



12 ' CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP

some instructors, they only give but moderate results,
but when employed correctly they transform into
horsemen happily and very quickly, even those with
the least natural aptitude. Taken as a whole, the
suppling exercises have a triple effect. They serve
to obtain —

(1) General decontraction.

(2) The independence of the aids.

(3) Regularity of position.

The instructor groups and utilizes the suppling
exercises which seem to him the best to attain the
end he has in view.

In the first two cases the suppling exercises affect
all the men in the ride, since the instructor has a
uniform object in view. In the last case it is right,
on the contrary, to j)rescribe to each horseman the
special exercise Avhich he should do.

One should notice, moreover, that certain of these
movements are contrary to one another, and that it
is necessary when employing them to know exactly
the end one wishes to attain, e.g. the raising of the
thighs, particularly favourable to the acquisition of
the seat, evidently counteracts the benefit of the
revolving of the thigh, intended to put it on the flat
side, and to cause the leg to drop. At the end of a
few weeks of well-regulated instruction, confidence is
established, the contractions diminish, the riders
commence to find and keep the bottom of the saddle,
their joints acquire freedom, and in consequence
they obtain greater control over their movements.
It is then time to consider the question of horse
control and to lay down the principle governing it.



CHAPTER II

SECONDARY EQUITATION
HORSE CONTROL

The principles and the system of control indispensable
to the ordinary soldier are explained in the drill book,
and constitute elementary horsemanship. The follow-
ing concerns more especially officers, and constitutes
secondary equitation.

The art of horsemanship teaches how to use the
means at the rider's disposal for managing his horse
at all paces, and on all kinds of ground.

To control a horse is —

(1) To put him in movement.

(2) To regulate this movement.

(3) To direct this movement.

Though simple in theory the management of the
horse is none the less complex and difficult in practice.
It demands a knowledge of all the resources that art
and science can place at our disposal.

It is necessary, in the next place, to be able to
dispose of these means as one wishes ; in fact, oneness
with the horse demands from the rider the accurate
employment of his means of action.

To sum up, it is necessary —

(1) To understand the means of action. (Study
of the aids.)



14 CAVALRY HORSEIMANSHIP

(2) To be master of the means of action. (The

discipUne of the aids.)

(3) To know how to utiUze these means of action.

(Employment of the aids.)
The knowledge and the application of these three
fundamental rules are indispensable in the making
of a horseman, but their study in no way lessens the
preponderant part which practice always plays.
Practice without theory is always uncertain, and
the application of good principles alone secures the
perfect utilization of the horse.

I. To Understand the Means of Action
Knowledge

STUDY OF THE AIDS.— The knowledge of the
aids, looked at as a Avhole, requires the examination
of the physical aptitudes and moral qualities of the
man, the study of the properly called natural aids,
and the knowledge of the artificial aids.

Value of the moral qualities and the physical aptitudes.
— The weight, the figure, the firmness or slack-
ness, the muscular power or the want of strength, the
suppleness or stiffness, the energy or the lack of it,
the intelligence, and the patience, or, on the contrary,
the apprehension, the nervousness, and the brutal
nature of the man, are factors in equitation which
seriously influence results, no matter how excellent
the instructors or their methods. All this should be
carefully considered in assigning horses to the riders,
more especially if the former are young.

Natural aids. — These are the legs, the reins, and
the weight of the body. The legs and the reins
serve to put the rider in contact with his horse ; they



HORSE CONTROL 15

enable him immediately to judge the eharaeter,
temperament, and state of training of the horse, and
then to transmit and impose his will upon it. The
movements of the horse vary aecording to the position
taken by the various parts of his body, and aceording
to the degree of impulsion of which he has the disposal.
In order to cause the horse to execute any movement,
it is necessary both to give him a position which allows,
makes easy, or determines the movement which one
wishes, and to produce, maintain, increase or lessen
the impulsion.

The rapidity of movement depends upon the degree
of impulsion. It is by means of the aids that there is
given to the horse position and impulsion.

The action of the legs. — The legs of the rider
should be fixed, that is to say adherent, and in light
contact with the body of the horse, free from all
involuntary movement ; an}^ action should be hardly
noticeable, and the length of the stirrup leathers should
be adapted to this end. In this case as in that of the
seat, the opposite of fixity is a swinging movement
which upsets the horse. The legs can act, resist, or yield.
They act when their pressure increases to bring about
a movement ; they resist when their pressure is meant
to limit or prevent a displacement of the hind quarters,
they yield when the pressure decreases and allows of
this displacement. In the first two cases they are
active in different degrees ; in the third case they are
passive.

{a) When the two legs act together they should
have the effect of driving the horse forward, if he is
standing, or of increasing the impulsion if he is in
movement. Their action should take effect near
the girths, gently so as not to surprise the horse,



16 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP

energetically and by decided intermittent pressure of
the calves if he hesitates to go forward.

(b) When one leg only, the right for instance, acts
behind the girths, it should have the effect whilst
causing forward movement to push the quarters to the
left. The horse looks to the right if he is standing
and moves forward, turns to the right whilst increasing
his pace if he is moving. This action is produced by
drawing back the heel slightly and progressively, so
as not to surprise the horse ; by intermittent pressure
of the calves if he hesitates to yield, and by removing
all pressure the moment he obeys.

(c) The right leg acting against the girth, when the
left leg prevents the displacement of the quarters, will
have the effect of bending the horse to the right and
of bringing the right hind leg under the body. This
action of the leg should be employed when the horse is
standing : it requires great tact and belongs rather
to the high school of riding.

The spur serves on occasions to strengthen the
action of the leg and to render the obedience of the
horse more prompt. It is to the leg, what the curb is
to the hand. It should be used with discretion, in
accordance with the desired results, and the horse's
sensibility. A distinction, however, should be drawn
between the energetic pressures intended to force the
horse forwards or to punish him, and the quick, light
touch of the spur which is one of the fine aids. "

Action of the reins. — The reins act on the horse's
mouth by means of the bits. In order that this effect
may be accurate, they must be held at a right length
and stretched during work : if they are slack the
indications of the hand will not reach the horse, or
they will be confused, or perhaps, in the form of " jobs,"



HOUSE CONTROL 17

be both brutal and clumsy. One culls " contact " the
elastic correspondence which ought to exist Ijctween
the rider's hand and the horse's mouth ; in the case
ol" some horses — in particular young ones — the contact
is a steady equal feeling ; out of doors at the fast
l)aces, and especially in a charge, the contact can
become a support more or less strong.

The hands, like the legs, can act, resist, or yield. —
The reins being adjusted the hands act when they
increase the tension of the reins ; they resist when they
fix themselves; they yield when they follow the move-
ment of the neck. It is very important to know how-
to act, resist, and yield, at the right moment. The
actions of the hands should be progressive. The
hand which resists has a very powerful effect without
irritating the horse, as an active pulling would : it
produces its effect by reason of its firmness, and it
should yield the moment the horse obeys.

An active hand is one w^hich acts on the equilibrium
or on the impulsion ; a passive hand is one which,
whilst preserving the contact, does not oppose either
the impulsion or the displacement of weight.

The many and diverse sensations and resistances,
transmitted by the reins to the hand of the rider, have
consequently necessitated the variety of the actions
of this hand. Amongst these numerous actions, it is
necessary to determine and define those, of which the
simple and evident effects suffice to obtain all the
movements useful in military equitation.

A. The Reixs regulate the Impulsion

The two reins acting together should have the
effect of decreasing the pace, stopping the horse, or

c



18 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP

of making him back. They are called direct reins.
Their action is produced by fixing the hands, the
fingers being closed on the reins held at a proper length,
whilst the elbows and hands are drawn back as little
as possible.

The half halt is a strong and brief action of the
hand, which the rider carries out by closing the fingers
on the reins and turning the nails quickly upwards
without losing touch with the horse's mouth ; the
hand being carried slightly back. It serves to steady
excitable horses, and also to carry back to the hind
quarters the excess of weight which some badly
balanced horses carry on their forehand. It is given,
according to necessity, either with one rein, or with
the two reins together, and either with the bridoon or
the bit reins. The hand should proportion the force
of these effects to the amount of resistance which the
weight offers.

The vibration is a succession of slight jerks, com-
municated to one of the bits through cither one rein,
or the two reins at the same time. It can be given,
as in the ease of the half-halt, with the bridoon or the
bit reins ; it is continued for a few seconds, and is
strong or light, according to the resistance encountered.
This action is used to overcome the muscular contrac-
tion of the lower jaw, which the horse opposes, either
instinctively or voluntarily, to the action of the bit.

B. The Hands also give the Position to the
Forehand

The reins act by the mouth, on the head, the neck
and the shoulders. They enable the rider to place the
head in relation to the neck, the neck in relation to the



HORSE CONTROL 19

slioukU'i's, and the slioukkrs in relation to tlie (luarters.
Tliey can even act indirectly on the (luarters, by
,i,avin<^' to the shoulders a position which obli<^as the
(quarters to change their direction, i.e. they oi)pose
the shoulders to the quarters.

These different effects depend upon the direction
given to the tension on the rein, according as the hand
is carried more or less forward or backward, more or
less to the right or left, more or less upwards or
downwards.

The various actions of the hand can be grouped in
live main series, but this is a purely theoretical division,
which helps in the study and application of the aids.
Between these extreme actions, forward to the right,
backward to the right, backward to the left, and for-
ward to the left, there are numberless directions, or
tensions, which form as it were a keyboard, on w^hich
the rider will find the right note all the more quickly
in accordance with his knowledge, experience, and

der
ERRATA. the

On page 18. second paragraph, first line, the word ned

jerks " should read " shakes." on

(b) If the rider increases the movement of the
right hand towards the right, the neck follows the
head, the shoulders follow the neck, and the horse
looks to the right, whilst advancing.

2. By giving to the right opened rein a backward
tension, the rider draws his horse's shoulders backwards
and to the right, and forces him to throw his quarters
to the left. The rein is now^ called the direct rein of
uppubitiun. This action is produced by lowering the



18 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP

of making him back. They are called direct reins.
Their action is produced by fixing the hands, the
fingers being closed on the reins held at a proper length,
whilst the elbows and hands are drawn back as little
as possible.

The half halt is a strong and brief action of the
hand, which the rider carries out by closing the fingers
on the reins and turning the nails quickly upwards
without losing touch with the horse's mouth ; the
hand being carried slightly back. It serves to steady
excitable horses, and also to carry back to the hind
quarters the excess of weight which some badly
balanced horses carry on their forehand. It is given,
according to necessity, either with one rein, or with
the two reins together, and either with the bridoon or
the bit reins. The hand should proportion the force
of these effects to the amount of resistance which the
weight offers.

The vibration is a succession of slight jerks, com-
ix

O]

a
b
si

T

tion of the lower jaw, which the horse opposes, either
instinctively or voluntarily, to the action of the bit.

B. The Hands also give the Position to the
Forehand

The reins act by the mouth, on the head, the neck
and the shoulders. They enable the rider to place the
head in relation to the neck, the neck in relation to the



HORSE CONTROL 19

sliouldcr.s, iiiid the sliouldcrs in rcUitioii to the (iiuirtcrs.
They ciin even act indirectly on the (juiirters, by
^ivin*:^ to the shoulders ti position whieh obli^as the
({uarters to chan<j[e their direction, i.e. they oppose
the shoulders to the quarters.

These different effects depend upon the direction
given to the tension on the rein, according as the hand
is carried more or less forward or backward, more or
less to the right or left, more or less upAvards or
downwards.

The various actions of the hand can be grouped in
live main series, but this is a purely theoretical division,
which helps in the study and application of the aids.
Between these extreme actions, forward to the right,
backward to the right, backward to the left, and for-
ward to the left, there are numberless directions, or
tensions, which form as it were a keyboard, on which
the rider will find the right note all the more quickly
in accordance with his knowledge, experience, and
tact.

1. {a) In carrying the hand to the right, the rider
displaces the head of the horse towards the right ; the
right rein in this case takes the name of the " oj^ened
rein.'' The rider should avoid pulling backwards on
the rein and moving his elbow from the side.

(b) If the rider increases the movement of the
right hand towards the right, the neck follows the
head, the shoulders follow the neck, and the horse
looks to the right, whilst advancing.

2. By giving to the right opened rein a backward
tension, the rider draws his horse's shoulders backwards
and to the right, and forces him to throw his quarters
to the left. The rein is now called the direct rein of
oppobition. This action is produced by lowering the



20 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP

hand, the fingers being closed on a rein of proper
length.

3. (a) By carrying the right hand forward and to
tlie left, the rider draws the horse's nose to the right,
and places on to the left shoulder the greater part of
the weight of the neck. The right rein is then called
the contrary or indirect rein.

(b) If the rider increases the movement of the right
hand towards the left, the resulting increase of weight
will cause a displacement of balance towards the left,
and the horse will turn to that side, the turn being
made whilst advancing. By giving to the indirect
rein (right rein) a backward tension, two effects can
be produced, according as the tension of the rein is
applied in front of or behind the withers.

4. If it is applied in front of the withers, i.e. towards
the near shoulder, the shoulders are brought back to
the left, the horse faces to the left, and moves back-
Avards, if he is stationary ; he turns to the left, slacken-
ing his pace, if he is in movement.

5. If the rein is drawn across behind the withers,
i.e. towards the near hind leg, the rein acts on the whole
horse, and pushes both the forehand and hind quarters
to the left. If the horse is moving, this diagonal
action of the right rein, whilst bending him to the
right, pushes him obliquely forward towards the left,
and with all the greater energy if the impulsion is
great.

The two actions (4 and 5) of an indirect rein both
tend to ojDpose the shoulders to the quarters and take
the name of " contrary oi^posing reins " or " indirect
rein of opposition . ' '

Harmony of the aids. — The harmony of the aids
is the co-operation that the rider should obtain from



HORSE CONTROL 21

the legs, the hands, and the weight of his body, in
order to bring about, make easy, or hasten the proper
execution of the required movement.

1. Harmony between the legs acting together and both
reins acting together.

The legs give the impulsion.

The reins regulate the impulsion.

The simultaneous action of both legs has tlie effect
of causing, maintaining, or increasing the forward
movement.

The simultaneous tension of both reins limits the
forward movement, i.e. it decreases the pace, stops or
causes the horse to go backward. These two actions
are totally opposed to one another, and should never
be employed at the same time, under penalty of
destroying all impulsion. When the legs act to produce
an increase in the pace, the hands should yield, and
should resist if it is necessary to restrain the horse.
In the same way when the reins act to reduce the pace,
the legs yield, then resist, if it is necessary to limit the
slackening of the speed.

To sum up, if it is a matter of reducing speed,
stopping, or of going backwards, the legs regulate the
movement when necessary, but they should not act
till the horse has commenced to stop, or if he stops too
suddenly. If it is a question of starting the walk, of
taking the trot, or of lengthening the stride, the reins
should be ready to resist at the right moment, to
regulate the pace, but they should not have any effect
until the horse has commenced to yield to the pressure
of the legs. When going straight forward the action
of the hands and the action of the legs are, therefore,
never simultaneous. It is evident that the better the
horse is trained, the more obedient he is, the more



22 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP

one can combine these actions without mixing them
up. On the other hand, the more undecided the horse
is, the clearer ought to be the indications given him,
and the more necessary it is to separate the actions,
so that they ma}^ not counteract each other.

2. Harmony of the two reins.— Before trying to
regulate or strengthen the action of one rein by that
of the other, it is necessary to make certain that they
do not oppose one another ; if the right hand acts,
one must see that the left hand allows the action of the
right hand to produce its full effect. Accordingly, not
only should the left hand refrain from acting, but it
should not even resist : it should yield.

If it acted at the same time as the right hand, even
if it resisted, so far from strengthening the action, it
would but oppose, lessen, or perhaps completely
destroy it. To yield the left hand, when the right
hand acts, is to give to the action of the hand its full
effect.

To sum up, each time that the right hand acts,
whether it be by opening the rein, by applying the
direct rein of opposition, the indirect rein, or the indirect
rein of ojoposition, the left hand should first yield, to
allow the head and neck to take the indicated position,
then resist, if it is necessary to limit the movement,
in which case it plays the part of a regulating rein.
An action of the left hand can perfectly follow the
action of the right hand : one can substitute, for
example, an action of the indirect rein for the action
of the opened rein, but these actions are alternative,
and the principle of the active rein and of the 2^(^^^sive
rein is alwaj^s observed. When riding with one hand,
the indirect rein acts alone, the direct rein becoming
slack at the moment of action. If the two reins are



HORSE CONTROL 23

not in absolute agreement, they, at any rate, do not
oppose one another.

3. Harmony of the legs. — When the right leg
alone acts, the left leg should first yield, so as to allow
the aetion of the right leg to produec its effect ; it
resists, if necessar}^ to regulate the movement, by
limiting the displacement of the quarters.

4. Harmony of the legs with each of the effects of the
reins. — The pressure of the legs causes the horse to move
forward, and produces the movement, which the rein
should direct ; in the same way the tension of the reins
aims at producing on the quarters, effects which the
legs should assist. There is consequently a constant
co-ojoeration between the legs and the hands, which,
instead of opposing one another, should, on the con-
trary, combine, harmonize, and strengthen their effects.

(«.)* The right opened rein carries the weight of the
neck on to the right shoulder, without opposing it to
the quarters, which follow the direction taken by the
shoulders. The legs merely maintain the movement
by an equal pressure.

(h) The right rein direct of opposition bends the
neck to the right, by bringing the weight on to the
right shoulder, so as to oppose it to the quarters and
force them to the left. The right leg should assist by
also forcing the quarters to the left.

(c) The right indirect rein causes the head to swing
to the left, places the weight of the neck on to the left
shoulder, without opposing it to the quarters. Both
legs act equally to maintain the forward movement.

{d) The right indirect rein of opposition (drawn
across in front of the withers) bends the neck to the
right, carries the weight on to the left shoulder, and
* See diagrams, pp. 25-33.



24 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP

throws the quarters to the right, by opposing the
shoulders to them. The left leg also presses the
quarters to the right.

(e) The right indirect rein of opposition (drawn
across behind the withers), by bending the neck to the
right, has the effect of carrying the weight on to the
left shoulder and quarter, and draws, when the horse
is moving, all the weight forward, and to the left, by
opposing the head and the neck to the shoulders and
quarters.

The right leg by pressing the quarters towards the
left, strengthens and increases the movement, which
the left leg acting against the girths also maintains.

It must be well understood that in recommending
the action of one leg, it is not implied that the other
should remain inactive ; it should, on the contrary,
keep up and regulate the impulsion, as has been said
before when speaking of the harmony of the legs.

Weight of the body. — In studying the action of
the reins, it has become evident that under their