ABSTRACT
Once the gentle hopping against the side or the horse is accepted, it is time to leave the ground with successively bigger jumps. In spite of the willingness of horses to assume a role in the transportation of man, man's transition from the ground to the horse's back has long been a difficult training point for the horse. To get from the ground to a position lying across the horse's back without a running start and without digging into his back takes some athletic ability along with the right body type. Communication will consist of cues built upon the natural response of the horse to different balance and pressure points upon his back. Training will continue to be a man and a horse seeking ways to communicate in order that they might move as one. The horse should be longed until he is ready to work slow and steady on the rail.
