Allan Melvill Pope

“ If the weight of the horse, by changing the position of parts of the body, brings the center of gravity towards the rear, it is more favorable for the backward movement.
When the center of gravity is forward, the fore legs control the movement of the mass, and the hind legs [22] merely propel. When the center of gravity moves backward, the hind legs become more and more masters of the control of the movement of the mass, and their action then is from the ground up as well as from rear to front as before. In other words, the movements gain in height. ”

“ As long as the rider does not wish to make abrupt changes of direction, but gallops on a large circle or on the track, it makes little difference whether the horse is galloping true or false, and it is useless for the rider to bother about the leads at this stage of the training. ”

“ As the horse’s object is to lighten the fore quarters, it follows that great speed is a detriment to a horse in jumping, for the more speed the more weight upon the forehand. Raising the head and neck necessitates lengthening the reins at the moment of extension, or letting them slide through the fingers. It follows then, that, as a false movement of the hand with a severe bit causes greater injury than one with a snaffle bit, a snaffle bit should be used in jumping until proficiency is obtained. ”

“ Use the hand to make motions for the same purpose or tap him lightly with the hand on his side, in case the horse refuses to go forward. If the horse turns toward the trainer, shake the longe so that it lightly taps the nose on the side of the horse which should be toward the center of the circle. Gradually, as the horse learns what is wanted, the trainer moves so that the horse circles about him, first at a slow gait, then at the trot, and finally, when more proficient, at the canter and gallop. ”

“ Jumping should be begun at first at the walk, then at the trot and gallop. The horse jumping for the first time gauges his stride more easily at the walk.
A bar may be placed two or three feet from the ground in the opening of the corral fence, etc., so that the horses that have been worked at jumping on the longe may be thus intercepted by an easy jump on their way to the corral or to some such place to which they are desirous of going. A man with a longeing-whip stands ready to urge on any that refuse. This jump should be stiff and helps to prepare horses for outdoor jumping. ”

“ If the rider believes that the horse will make violent resistances, he can insure his seat by having a rolled blanket strapped to the pommel of the saddle, to keep his knees in place. With a horse very difficult to mount, where there is danger of severe resistance, the horse should be snubbed up to a strong, quiet horse. Snubbing is only resorted to in cases where longeing and quiet handling have failed to bring about the desired results.
With very restless animals, the assistants stand squarely in front of the horses and simply caress the [19] animals’ heads without holding the reins. ”

“ If the horse attempts to buck, press him forward with the legs and hold his head high. The rider is more easily displaced if the horse bucks in place. If the rider is not able to make the horse go forward, he should turn him to the right or left with the snaffle bit. As all horses have a soft and hard side to their mouths, when resistance is encountered in turning to the right, the attempt should be made to turn him to the left.
When a horse rears, separate the reins, and take hold of the mane in the left hand at about the middle of the neck. ”

“ The Gallop.—Almost invariably the gallop lesson should be begun early. This is an additional means of suppling the horse, of strengthening him, extending him, and pushing him straight ahead. It would be stupidity to gallop frequently on a colt that drags his legs and is disunited at a trot and that has difficulty in holding up the part essential to the training. On the other hand, it is proper to gallop repeatedly on a vigorous horse that [38] has been worked before purchase, or on the horse with good strong legs, particularly after he has been thoroughly confirmed in the correct trot. ”

“ To obtain the forward movement and the accelerations in gait then, the rider must let the horse extend and lower his head and neck; similarly he must raise them to obtain the slower gaits.
3. A horse must always be ready to carry himself forward. This is the most important rule in equitation. The tendency to move forward is called “impulsion.” Without impulsion we can have no influence over the direction. ”

“ It must be understood that at this stage of training, that is, during lateral equitation (explained on page 50) , the about on the forehand is not a finished movement. The aids to be used are: To execute an about on the forehand to the right; both legs to arouse impulsion; the right leg to swing the haunches; the right rein of opposition to assist the right leg; the left rein to assist the right in its second function of preventing the horse from moving forward. The left leg is always ready to prevent the horse from backing. ”

“ When a horse is collected, the rider, by having omitted bending the neck near the shoulders during training, has the neck firm on the shoulders and not flexible or “rubber-necked.” Hence the rider acts on the neck through the mouth and on the shoulders through the neck. The hind quarters by being under the horse bind themselves to the forehand. The rider then by acting on the forehand acts likewise upon the hind quarters. ”

“ Horses that are inclined to bolt or forge ahead continually, or those that throw most of the weight on the forehand, need much more hall work than outdoor work.
Young horses especially should be given trots on soft ground. No horse should be galloped on hard roads. [49] Soft ground means turf or dirt roads, not plowed land or stone-built roads. The gallop is undertaken outdoors only when the horse can be made to lead from either foot. ”

“ In order to keep the start from being sudden, the energy displayed in the use of the leg should conform to the degree of sensitiveness of the horse. The movement can be kept from being hesitatingly performed by progressively, but without hesitancy, using such force as the legs should have, and by giving the reins with the fingers and wrist at the precise moment the neck tries to stretch out. ”

“ When the amount of trot required between changes of lead is hardly more than a slackening of speed, or “half halt,” make a large circle to the right at the gallop, leading right. Leave the circle on the diagonal, as before, and make another circle to the left, holding the right lead. Change the aids, while on the second circle, to gallop left, without coming to the trot, and force the horse into the change of lead. ”

“ Outdoor jumping should be taken up as soon as the horse learns to jump moderately well indoors.
Wings are not found in ’cross-country work, hence a troop horse whose training is fitting him for just such work should not be made dependent upon them by their use in the riding-hall all the time. ”

“ The horse being in motion, if we force him to carry the weight of his forehand to one side, the entire forehand tends to be displaced to the same side. This displacement of the horse is obligatory if that of the center of gravity is sufficiently accentuated. ”

“ Enlisted men specially suited for training horses should be detailed under the above-named officer’s direction. [8] Only such enlisted men should be detailed who will not be discharged or detailed on other duty until the training ceases. The training should continue for not less than six months. Horses should, when possible, be assigned trainers who belong to the organization to which the horses are assigned, the rider being assured, if possible, that the horse will be assigned to him after the training is over. ”

“ Horses which tend to get behind the bit or which do not let themselves out should frequently have outside work alternated with hall work. The horse being gradually educated to a good free trot should be given them outdoors, allowing time enough between trots for the horse to assume normal breathing. ”

“ When the horse is quiet, move so that the jump will intercept the circle the horse is making. As the horse approaches the jump the trainer, with the longe fairly taut, likewise approaches the end of the bar nearest him, keeping the longeing-whip held in rear of the horse. ”

“ The need of them is felt especially in the training of green horses, but also with a horse that refuses to turn and carries his head in the opposite direction from that in which the rider desires him to go. When the right rein is open, the horse’s head will be drawn to the right and he will be assisted in moving in that direction. ”

“ Jumping for Breadth.—This is a more difficult jump to teach a new horse, because he is more fearful of a ditch than of a fence. From the nature of the jump, it can only be taught outdoors. The method of instruction is the same as for jumping for height. ”

“ The horse that can perform successfully the foregoing exercises, that has found his balance while moving forward, that is easy to control by the aids at the walk and trot, and that has learned the use of his legs in accomplishing a good walk, trot, and gallop, is ready for the double bridle. ”

“ A horse galloping right, for instance, seems to have the right legs always in front of the left. The rider can tell by seeing if the right shoulder is further advanced than the left. If the horse gallops right in front and left behind, the rider can feel an unusual stiff movement beneath him. ”

“ If the horse sets himself, move him forward a step or two, and as he is moving exert the aids for the backward movement until he obeys. Moving a horse’s haunches laterally will help to prevent a horse from setting himself and refusing to back. ”

“ As riding cannot be taught by books, no attempt is made to do so here. Officers instructed in riding at the Mounted Service School are returned to their regiments every year, where, by their example and ability to instruct, they can accomplish far more than any literature on the subject; but where riding, as regards the seat, cannot be readily forgotten, points of training a horse can ”

“ By going in pairs nervous horses do not fret while outdoors, as much as though alone. It is likewise better not to maintain a formation in ranks while outdoors, any more than necessary, in order to prevent the new horses from acquiring the habit of going in ranks and refusing to leave. ”

“ The time allotted to “breaking” or gentling will be in many cases eliminated, as the present system of remount stations has become well established.
Each troop should have three or four such articles as longes and cavessons. These articles can be made very easily by saddlers and blacksmiths, from a model. Models can undoubtedly be procured through the Mounted Service School at Fort Riley, Kansas, or from any saddlery store, care being taken in purchasing from the latter to determine whether the model is a correct one or not. ”

“ Two officers can train with reasonable satisfaction seventy-five horses, if given one hour and a half per day six days a week, in the riding-hall. As the number of horses in the riding-hall at a time go over fifteen the difficulties increase. ”

“ To many, the expenditure of six months in training troop horses by these methods seems unnecessary and impracticable. With experienced men and amenable [86] horses the time may be slightly reduced. A horse cannot be hurried, and slipshod, careless training is often worse than none. ”