The knowledge of the nature of a horse is one of the first foundations of the art if riding it, and every horseman must make it his principal study.

A firm hand is one which holds the horse in full contact.

A light hand is one which never feels the contact of the bit with the bars.

Grace is so great an adornment for a rider, and at the same time so important a means to the knowledge of all that which is necessary for persons aspiring to become riders, that such persons should willingly sped the time required to obtain that quality at the outside of their endeavors.

Above all, a horse should never be chastised out of foul mood or anger, but always with complete dispassion.

Others make a point of trying to attain the precision and poise they see in those who have the ability to choose from a great number of horses those with [...] qualities found in only a very small number of horses. This leads to a circumstance in which these imitators of such studied poise mortify the spirit of a noble horse, and remove from it all of the goodness of temperament Nature has given it.

In order to have a good hand, it must be light, gentle, and firm.