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USUAL OR INSTINCTIVE EQUITATION This lateral equitation can be practiced by the beginner by rule of thumb, without acquaintance with the principles or theories of any formulated method. But a learner makes faster progress and is in less danger of accident when he puts himself under a riding-master. The riding-master or the riding-school will provide a horse already trained, with all the needed apparatus. It is then not necessary for the pupil to train the animal; but only to learn to mount and dismount; to sit properly on the horse when standing, walking, trotting, or galloping, in a word, to make his seat; and to control the horse by the lateral effect at these different gaits, in any direction, without losing the correct position. When the pupil has acquired a sufficiently firm seat, he may practice jumping. This will test his progress, and will also show him what he has still to learn. My own long experience proves to me that the rider's seat is the foundation of his progress. Without seat, nothing can be learned. With seat, everything, simple or difficult, becomes possible. The cavalier can never have too much of this sine qua non. Indeed, he can never have enough.