*The MANUAL of HORSEMANSHIP of THE BRITISH HORSE SOCIETY and THE PONY CLUB

EQUITATION

THIRD STAGE

The rider

     It is impossible to lay down any hard or fast rule for training a horse and this is only meant as a guide.  some horses take much longer than others, so it is impossible to give an specific time.  But if the work so far has been correct, the horse should by now be permanently "on the bit", which means he is holding it lightly in his mouth, with a relaxed jaw and obeying the aids without resistance.  Naturally there will always be moments when the horse puts up an evasion and resists the bit, but he should respond immediately to a correction given.  If he does not obey, and if there is no obvious reason, like excitement caused by another horse, a car going down the road, or a bird suddenly flying up, then the rider must ask himself why, and what has been wrong with his training.  It may be that he uses too much hand and not enough leg.  It may be that his stiff himself, which will communicate itself at once to the horse, with dire results.  Or it may be that he has not been clear enough with his aids.

     It is very important for the rider to analyse himself and to be sure he is sitting correctly.  If hes getting too far forward, he will not be in a position to give correct aids.  If he is sitting in the shape of a bow, it would be impossible for him to use his back to push the horse forward.  If he loses his temper he will never get anywhere.  So, if things go wrong, the rider must not blame the horse but himself, and correct his position if necessary.

     Every day the rider must go over all these exercises we have discussed.  As time goes on, he must ask for a better and better performance, aiming always towards perfection.  He must be more strict with the not-so-good movements.  If the rider is satisfied with the progress his horse has made, he may now take his training on a further step by teaching him to counter-canter.

MANUAL OF HORSEMANSHIP

The counter-canter

     This is also an excellent suppling exercise, but it must not be attempted too early as, until the horse is fairly supple he cannot perform it correctly and he will start changing legs behind, which is a very difficult habit to cure.

     First try rather long and not very deep serpentines at the canter.  For instance, canter in a school or alongside a fence on the right leg;  then bring the horse off the track and return to the track without changing legs.  The rider must remember to keep the horse bent to the right, even when going to the left, as it is important for him to keep the bend towards the leading leg.  As the horse gets more and more supple, these serpentines can get deeper and deeper, until the rider can take his horse round a school in a counter-canter and finally perform a complete circle.  (This means going round to the left with the right leg leading, or vice versa).  Progress must be very gradual, and the rider must be content with a little at a time.  It is far better to go slowly and get it right, than to hurry in the early stages and then later have to correct other faults which have been produced by "forcing the pace".  Naturally the exercise must be practised equally on both reins.

     The counter-canter must not be confused with the disunited canter, which is an evasion and is always incorrect.  In the true canter, one pair of laterals (both legs on one side) should be in advance of the other pair (see above, under the heading "The Canter").  In the disunited canter, the horse is leading with the near-fore and the off-hind, or vice versa.

The walk from the canter

     The next exercise to teach the hose is the canter-to-walk.  This must only be attempted if the rider is quite sure the hose will answer his seat aids and relax his back muscles by producing more active hock action.  If the horse is at all stiff in the back, the rider will not be able to get a correct canter-to-walk and much resistance and throwing up of the horse's head will result, all of which will be very detrimental to the horse's training.

     It is best to start this movement on a fairly large circle, as the horse finds it easier to be balanced at the cater when not on a straight line.  Whilst keeping the horse bent slightly to the leading leg, the rider closes his legs, sits very deep and well down in the saddle and, by using strong seat and back-aids, supported by closed legs into resisting hands, pushes the horse's balance is such that he can pass straight into a walk.  This will not be accomplished the first time it is attempted, because it is probable that the horse will not be sufficiently in balance and will therefore have to take two or three steps at a trot.  If the rider's aids are not clear or strong enough, the horse will come back with his weight on his forehand.  The rider must make the horse canter more and more slowly by lowering the croup, and thus making him light in hand.  Only then can the horse pass straight into a walk.  As soon as the horse walks, the reins must immediately be relaxed and the horse allowed to walk freely on without any restriction.

The simple change

     When the foregoing movement has been successfully achieved, the rider may attempt a simple change of leg, but it is most important to get the canter-to-walk first.  It is also necessary before starting this exercise, to be sure that the horse will strike off into a canter on either leg on a straight line and be perfectly straight while doing so.  It would be a mistake to try a simple change of leg if the horse if the throws his quarters in when striking off into a canter, as it would only aggravate this fault and then there would be many difficulties to overcome in order to get a correct change of leg.  The reason for correct canter-aids is now obvious.

MANUAL OF HORSEMANSHIP

If the rider's inside leg and seat are used to the same extent as the outside leg, the horse will not learn this annoying habit of pushing his quarters to the inside when striking off into a canter, and there will be no need for any corrections.

     To practise the simple change of leg at the canter:-- Canter off on a named leg, perform a canter-to-walk and walk on for some distance before striking off on the other leg.  Gradually reduce the length of walk in between the canters until there are only two or three paces at the walk.  The resulting simple change of leg will have been performed with the greatest of ease.

Conclusion

     If this system of training is carefully adhered to, so that all resistance is reduced to a minimum before any difficult exercise is asked, the rider will find these exercises falling into his lap, like a ripe plum does from a tree, directly the horse understands what is required of him.  Because, having taught the horse obedience and how to relax, the rider does not have the dual task of teaching him simultaneously a new aid, and overcoming a resistance.  The secret is obedience--the proud result of correct training, which has caused the horse to five himself willingly and to obey with pleasure the indications of the rider.  This training will have developed the horse's muscles and suppled him, to such an extent as to make jumping easier.  It will also have got him into the habit of obedience, which will go a long way towards elimination the possibility of refusals when jumping.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

*The MANUAL of HORSEMANSHIP of  THE BRITISH HORSE SOCIETY and THE PONY CLUB

The British Horse Society makes acknowledgement to Educational Productions Ltd. for permission to reproduce illustrations by Joan Wanklyn from the book "Riding" by Mrs. V. D. S. Williams, and to Moss Bros. of Covent Garden and Geo. Parker & Sons, for the loan of bits illustrated on pages 29 and 30.

CONTENTS

Arrangement of this book.

     The book is divided into three parts dealing with Equitation, Saddlery and Horsemastership.

      Part I deals primarily with riding, the position of the rider and control of the horse or pony.

     There follow two appendices about elementary dressage.  Appendix I describes a system of training and Appendix II contains definitions of the various terms and movements.  The appendices deal with more advanced riding and movements than the earlier sections of the book.

     Part II deals with the fitting as well as with the care and cleaning of saddlery.  It also describes how        to put on and take off a saddle and bridle.

     Part III includes the handling and care of horses and ponies at grass and in stables;  also veterinary      notes, the identification of horses and ponies and road transport.

     

     The training of young horses and ponies is dealt with in a separate book "Training the Young Horse and Pony", also published by The British Horse Society.

     An index will be found at the end of the book.

Published by

THE BRITISH HORSE SOCIETY

NATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

KENILWORTH, WARWICHSHIRE, CV8 2LR


PRINTED IN ENGLAND BY
NORTHBOURNE PRESS GROUP LIMITED 
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