Notes on equitation and horse training/Question 16
XVI.
Easing the hand on the curb bit.—We have previously discussed the easing of the hand on the snaffle bit. The suppling exercise is the same when made on the curb bit, but in this case it should be followed by raising the head again.
The horse having yielded the jaw, loosen the fingers and continue the action of the legs in order to push the horse gently in pursuit of his bit. From the very beginning of training he has grown accustomed to lean lightly on the bit, and he therefore extends his neck and lowers his head to recover this customary support.
The extension of the neck will be sufficient and will be well executed whenever the horse, without increasing or decreasing the gait, extends his nose downward and forward to the level of the knees and keeps his jaw flexible.
The raising of the head is effected by carrying the hands forward and pulling upward on the reins, the legs still preventing any slowing up.
These suppling exercises should be repeated at a walk, trot, and gallop, and on the three lines.
Easing the hand is an exercise suitable for horses too high in front, with a high neck—that is, either upside down or ewe-necked—and for those with weak hind quarters, predisposed to injuries. It should be used very sparingly with horses that are high behind, especially if the withers are low and sunken, the shoulders straight, the neck thin, and the head large.
What should be understood by give and take—Action of the fingers on the reins.—As the horse should always be in close touch with the hand of the rider, the expression
give and take has a certain significance which should be clearly stated.
Take does not consist in drawing the hand back and give does not mean carrying the hand forward and releasing the reins.
Assuming the permanent contact which should exist between the horse's mouth and the rider's hand, take means to fix the wrist and tighten the fingers at the moment of halting or of half halting; give means to relax the wrist and loosen the fingers without losing touch with the horse's mouth; if the horse has been well trained, touch will not be lost, because the horse will himself feel for his rider's hand.
Any slowing of gait should therefore be the result of the action of the fingers on the reins. If this action is insufficient, it must be reinforced by carrying the upper part of the body backward; but any movement of the elbows should be avoided, as this is the unfailing symptom of the unskilled horseman.
Necessity of frequently returning to the lesson of going straight ahead.—All these bending lessons made on the curb bit, these halts and half halts, only too often result in slowing the horse and in diminishing any desire to go ahead that he may have acquired.
(This is commonly called "steam," and is manifested by a proper voluntary tightening of the reins. The horse with "no steam" is voluntarily behind the bit.—The Board.)
It is therefore necessary to resume frequently the first lesson of the legs—the lesson of moving straight ahead. The horse should be attacked vigorously with the calves, being careful to fully loosen the fingers, so that he shall have complete liberty to escape to the front.
Lesson with the spurs.—With horses that hold back, that are too cold (phlegmatic), or that do not respond to the legs the spurs should be used. The lesson with the
spurs does not occur at any fixed period, but is given when the occasion presents itself. If the horse is behind the legs (see Question XXVIII), put him at a trot in order to have him securely in motion (not liable to stop), and then let him feel the spurs by vigorous and repeated action until he leaps to the front.
Here it is particularly important to pay attention to the hand; you must not contradict with the hand what you demand with the legs, but must let the reins slip as much as is necessary to enable the horse to extend himself freely.
With certain horses it is sometimes prudent to grasp the pommel of the saddle when giving the spur lesson. The rider is then more certain of not contradicting himself and the lesson thus administered is sure to be profitable in the training of the animal.