Notes on equitation and horse training/Question 15
XV.
Instruction in the double bridle.—The instructor's first care must be as to the manner in which the horses are bitted. A mild curb bit should be selected; that is to say, a bit with large cannons, a low port (only slightly restricting the freedom of the tongue) and short branches. The bit should be placed in the mouth high rather than low and the curb chain should be left long so as to facilitate at first a swinging motion of the bit. When the horses bear freely on the curb bit and when they submit to this new mouthpiece just as they formerly received the effects of the snaffle, the curb bit may be lowered to its proper place and the chain tightened to customary tension.
If the horse has a sensitive mouth, it is well to replace, for a time, the ordinary curb by a broken curb.[1]. The latter gives a mouthpiece more severe than the snaffe, but milder than the curb and the horse also becomes accustomed to the chain. The broken curb should be kept on for a certain length of time and may be resumed later if, during the course of training, it is noticed that the horse has a tendency to get behind the bit.
Successive steps to accustom the young horse to the curb bit.—In the first lessons in the double bridle, work should be begun on the snaffle bit. When the horse has settled down and is well in hand he can be ridden on the curb. It is to be remarked, and the remark is important, that bending lessons are never to be given in the early stages of work on the curb. For these lessons you must wait until the horse fearlessly accepts contact with the bit and tightens the curb reins as he formerly did the snaffle reins. If this method of procedure sometimes
has the drawback of producing mouths with little feeling, we guarantee that it is less difficult to supple a part that presents stiffness than to make a part firm where all resistance is lacking.
To attain this bearing on the bit the following schedule should be followed:
(1) Ride the horse with the reins in both hands, placing the snaffle rein outside, under the little finger. (See Question XXV.)
(2) At first, during work at a walk and later during work at a trot, ride the horse with the curb rein alone; the reins may be held in one hand or in both hands.
(3) Finally adopt the ordinary method of holding the reins.
With each of these different methods of holding the reins the horse must be made to repeat simple movements with which he is already familiar.
Moreover, the horse should be frequently put back on the snaffle alone and be ridden at extended gaits in order to restore the confidence that he may have lost in beginning lessons on the curb.
During this preparatory period the legs play an important role. It is essential that the curb bit should produce upon the horse no slowing or backing effect and that the forward movement produced by the legs should overcome any tendency in the other direction which might be the result of the first use of this bit.
Bending lessons.—As previously stated, bending lessons should not be begun until the horse has become thoroughly accustomed to his new mouthpiece and fearlessly accepts contact of both bit and chain.
Before setting forth a schedule of bendings, it will be advisable to cite the following principles relating thereto:
(1) Never slacken the gait during bending lessons. The hand does not pull the horse back; the legs push him forward until he encounters the bit when a bending results.
(2) Bendings with the snaffle bit should not be made except with one rein alone. Both snaffle reins are used in order to raise the head and to support the horse and therefore they should never be combined to exact bending.
(3) It is just the reverse with the curb bit, the reins of which are rarely separate in their action. The main object in view is a light feel on both reins.
(4) Do not bend the neck (laterally). In setting the head the upper part of the neck is involved and that is generally enough.
(5) Frequently follow up the bendings by easing the hand and as soon as the horse has extended his neck to the full extent, exact another bending with the head down.
Bending lessons with the double bridle should be taken up according to the following schedule:
(1) With the snaffle bit.—Flexing the jaw by the use of one rein; setting the head to the right and to the left (as in a change of direction).
(2) With both snaffle and curb bits.—Lateral flexion by the use of both right reins (XII); lateral flexion by the use of both left reins; setting the head by the use of both right reins; setting the head by the use of both left reins.
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(3) With the curb bit.—Flexing the jaw by use of one curb rein; flexing the jaw by the use of both curb reins (direct flexion) .
The most important bendings are: (1) Setting the head by use of one snaffle rein; (2) direct flexion (of the jaw) by use of both curb reins.
Dismounted bending lessons.—Dismounted bending lessons should be the exception. If obliged to resort to them, they should be curtailed to the two following:
(1) Flexing the jaw.—Executed by taking one or both snaffle reins in the hand in front and one or both curb reins in the hand in rear.
(2) Raising the head by the use of the snaffle. The trooper stands in front of the horse, facing him, and takes in each hand one of the snaffle reins, grasping it near the ring; the wrists are gradually raised until the horse's head and neck reach the desired elevation. The horse must stand still and must not back; if he starts to move to the rear, the whip is used to move him to the front again.
DEFINITIONS.
In hand.—The horse is in hand after he has completed and fully understands the bending lessons and when he yields willingly to the effects of the bit.
Lightness.—Lightness has been defined in answer to Question VI. It is the correct balance of the horse that obeys promptly and easily all impulses given him by his rider.
The set (Le placer) is the operation that places the center of gravity in the position required for the execution of any desired movement.—St. Phalle.
The gather (Le ramener).—To gather is nothing more or less than to set the forehand. When the horse carries his head and neck well up, the face approaching the vertical and the jaw flexible he is said to be in the position of the gather (or is gathered).
The assemble (Le rassembler) .—The assemble consists of the gather perfected by bringing the hind legs under. The set of the forehand is combined with the set of the hind quarters.[2]
- ↑ A curb bit with snaffle mouthpiece.
- ↑ The horse can be gathered at a halt although he should be taught the correct carriage of the head and neck at a walk, in which case there will be no chance of backing. On the other hand, the assemble, the highest form of collection, can be obtained only when the horse is in motion; the horse is assembled in the half halt to be sure, but this position can be held only for a moment before the horse moves again. St. Phalle says: "The set, as will be seen, is inseparable from the in hand and the assemble." For instance, in the half halt the horse is assembled; he is also in hand, ready for any indication of the bit and he is set for movement in any direction.-The Board.