91 



yon think necessary to tire liini, buckle a surcingle on 

 his body tolerably tight. Next you shorten the bridle, 

 wliich should have a thick, plain snaffle-bit, so that 

 the reins when loose shall come nearly straight ; then 

 take strap 2 (vide plate 14), and making a loop, put 

 it round the off fore-leg, and draw the loop tight 

 round the pastern-joint ; pass the strap through the 

 belly part of the surcingle (vide plate 15), take a firm 

 hold of it with your right hand, stand close to the 

 horse on the near side behind his shoulders, and with 

 your left hand take hold of the left rein of the bridle. 

 Make the horse hop, by gently pulling him to the 

 near side, or by having him led, and the moment he 

 lifts up his off fore-leg, draw up strap 2, tightly and 

 steadily. The motion will draw up the off fore-leg into 

 the same position as the near one, and the horse will 

 go down on his knees ; there hold the strap so firmly 

 that he will not be able to stretch his foot out again. 



As soon as the horse recovers from his astonish- 

 ment at b^ing brought to his knees, he begins to re- 

 sist ; that is, he rears up on his hind-legs, and springs 

 about in a manner that is apparently alarming, and 

 which often requires a good deal of activity in the 

 trainer. (Yide plate 16.) 



You must remember that your business is not to set 

 your strength against the horse's strength, but merely 

 to follow him about, holding the strap just tight 

 enough to prevent him from putting out his off fore- 

 leg. As long as you keep close to him and behind 



