138 ORDINARY RIDING. 



and forces the opposite leg. He escapes by going too quickly to 

 one side. 



I will suppose that the rider is placed with his shoulder to 

 the wall and is going to the right. The horse which tries to 

 checkmate all the efforts the rider makes to keep him in 

 hand and in good position, begins for instance, to lean 

 against the rider's left leg [putzi'ard leg or direct leg). The 

 spur pricks him and forces him to give way. He then tries 

 to get behind his bit. In order to drive him forward, it is 

 necessary to employ the right leg {outward leg or opposite leg). 

 As we hardly ever use the spur of the opposite leg, from fear 

 of straightening him, the horse will finish by pressing against 

 this leg and by saving himself by running to one side, which 

 will prevent us getting him in hand and regulating his work 

 on '' two tracks." 



The remedy is simple. It is sufficient, when the horse 

 throws himself on the opposite leg, to attack him vigorously 

 with the spur of that side, in order to make him straighten 

 himself. We must adopt this plan each time the horse throws 

 himself to one side, which he will soon give up doing. 



As we may see, the best system is to throw into disorder, 

 in order to establish order. This procedure, which is 

 criticised by all those who have not the audacity to practise it, 

 is the only one which incontestably establishes the power 

 of the breaker over the animal. By it, the horse learns' that 

 there are insurmountable obstacles to the carrying out of his 

 wishes. That point being settled, if we keep him balancing 

 between reward and punishment, he is ours.* 



* Every horse which knows how to go on " two tracks " makes an abuse of it. 

 When horses are accustomed to do demi-voltes and changes of hand on " two 

 tracks," they often put themselves sideways when their rider wishes them to do 

 these movements while holding them straight, and by this defence they escape 

 being rasse//id/c''d. By holding the horse straight, we make him bring his hocks 

 under his body, which is the very thing he tries to avoid doing by placing himself 

 sideways. The remedy is in the legs of the rider. Later on, when the breaking 

 has been finished — the horse being kept at the rassembler in all the school move- 

 ments — he will not be able to obtain help from this defence. 



