9. on the noble bearing of the horse

When one once owns a horse suitable for war and wants to present it magnificent and admirable under the rider, one must completely avoid pulling with the bit in his mouth and using the spurs and the whip permanently. For most believe, they are able to present their horse especially well in this way. But they cause exactly the opposite. By pulling the mouth upwards, they have their horses blinded by the sun instead of looking ahead; by whipping and spurring they scare them, so that they become excited and dangerous. But these are actions of horses that let themselves ride only unwillingly, that behave bad, but not well.

But teaching his horse going forward with light leading reins hold his neck up and arch it, so one will get a horse doing something that he likes and is proud of. As a proof I mention the following fact: when a horse returns to other horses, especially mares, then he raises the neck most high and arches his head most. Additionally he lifts his legs freely off the ground and raises his tail. By bringing the horse to the posture, he naturally shows, when wanting to look good, one gets the result that the horse appears happy to be ridden and noble, fierce and attractive.

Now I want to explain, how such a posture can be reached. First you need not less than two bits. One of these shall be smooth and have big cylinders the other heavy and low and turning but with sharp stings, for when he receives it drops it because of its roughness. But when he receives the smooth bit, he enjoys it and what he has learned with the rough he will also do with the smooth, but when he does not respect the smooth and keeps bearing against it, then we apply the sharper one, so he is forced to release. But it is possible to adjust the result of the rough bit by pulling or releasing the reins.

However the bits may be, they all must be broken in the mouth-part, for the unbroken only hold the horse at the place where he touches it with the jaw, like one lifts the entire spear, wherever one holds it. But the bit with joint works like a chain, only what you hold stays fastened, the rest hangs down. By always trying to catch what moves in his mouth the horse releases the jaw. Therefore are the middle rings at the middle of the axles, for avoiding the horse to begin to press on the bit with the jaws. Case somebody does not know what's the flexible and stiff as applied to a bit, I will also explain this briefly. One means flexible, when the axles have wide and smooth links so that they bend easily. Everything arranged around the axles is more flexible when it has large openings and is not close together. However the bit is designed, you must always use it in the same way as described. One shall not pull the reins tight and make the horse resist, but also not uncertain, so that he feels nothing. As soon as one has collected the horse and he raises the neck, then he must immediately release the bit.

Furthermore, like I cannot emphasize enough, everytime when the horse does something well we must comfort him. When one can see then, that the horse enjoys raising his neck and feeling the gentle leading, one may not give rough helps, such as to force him to work, but coax him. For so it will jump forward most willingly. That a horse loves running fast shows the following example: when he breaks loose a horse never goes by walk, but always runs. For he is born to love it, as long as you do not drive him overdue, because everything exceeding the right measure is neither pleasing horse nor man.

When now the horse finally progressed so far that he bears himself with pride when ridden, he of course has been accustomed already in the first exercise to jump to quick run. When one now, after he has learned this, holds the horse back by the rein and at the same time gives him a sign to go forward, then he will, held back by the rein, according to the help wanting to go forward, get excited and throw his chest forward and lifts his legs higher from the ground, but not more moving, as horses don't use the legs more moving when they are hurt. But if one releases the reins, the horse, being stimulated in this way, runs forward for joy, believing to have broken free from the bit because of the light hand of the rider or the loose rein. Then he bounds forward with pride and bearing and flexible legs, and imitates the graceful bearing before other horses. All people watching him then, call such a horse noble and proud and of pleasing and magnificent appearance. So much about that, for those who desire that sort of thing.

Translation and Copyright
by Stefan Welebny 2000, All Rights Reserved