ROTATION OF CROUP AND SHOULDERS. 115 



spur is drawn away from the i^irths, the nearer it approaches 

 the most tickHsh spot. In fact, horses are not tickhsh near 

 the girths, but all of them are ticklish further back. 



Besides, in this kind of attack, the lower part of the leg 

 cannot remain close to the animal's side, because the foot 

 swings backwards and forwards ; the result being that the 

 attack is sudden, instead of the horse being prepared for it by 

 a gradual pressure of the leg. It should, on the contrary, be 

 capable of being regulated with precision, so that it can be 

 light, well-marked, or extremely severe, according to the 

 resistance offered by the horse to the indications given by the 

 rider's legs. 



When spurring a horse just behind the girths, the knee 

 should be turned a little outwards, so that the spur, like a 

 sword, may be brought at right angles to the side, progres- 

 sively and with certainty. The scratching and fraying form 

 of attack is made without precision and by jerks. 



Those who believe that the fact of the knee being slightly 

 turned outwards diminishes the firmness of the rider's seat, 

 should be taught that the rider gets his strongest grip by 

 means of the upper and back part of the calf of the leg. 

 Therefore the position which the leg occupies when it spurs 

 the horse just behind the girths, is the one which is most 

 favourable to the rider's firmness of seat.* 



Gripping too tightly with the knees pushes the thighs 

 upwards, and causes the rider to be more or less raised out 

 of the saddle. 



By gripping with the hollow of the leg just behind the knee, 

 we have, on the contrary, perfect adherence from the buttock 

 to the heel. Besides, we can do fine work with the horse only 



* The fact that all beginners and had riders instinctively assume this position, 

 in order to get the greatest possible firmness of seat, prevents them from being able 

 to use the spurs. Besides, every rider instinctively adopts this position when 

 his horse plays up. 



8* 



