REINING BACK WITHOUT REINS. 247 



In the ordinary pirouette with the feet crossed, the forehand 

 turns, and the hind feet become crossed. The former is very 

 simple, and the latter very difficult. 



REINING BACK WITHOUT REINS. 



This movement is not very difficult to teach ; but it is not 

 without annoyance to the horse and danger to the rider, 

 because the legs and spurs are the only agents employed to 

 make the animal go back, with the consequent risk of putting 

 him behind his bit or making him rear. 



I would not advise young and inexperienced breakers to try 

 this exercise before they have broken several horses. Until 

 they have done so, they will not be able to exercise the 

 necessary judgment. 



We may safely try it on impetuous horses, which are always 

 ready to go forward ; but it would be a mistake to teach a 

 soft or sluggish animal, because the vigorous use of the legs 

 is the only way to make him go up to his bridle. In any 

 case, we ought not to teach it to a horse without being certain 

 that he will not take advantage of the instruction, by reining 

 back in opposition to the wishes of his rider ; in other words, 

 by becoming restive. Therefore, I do not begin this exercise 

 until the horse is perfectly obedient, and, especially, until I 

 am sure of being able to make him go forward under all 

 circumstances. 



In teaching it, I begin in the same way as I have described 

 for the rein back (p. 119^/ seq^, namely, I employ both legs and 

 hands. By degrees I diminish the action of the reins, while 

 indicating to the horse by means of the legs, which is the 

 great difficulty, that the hind quarters should begin the move- 

 ment. It is necessary in some sort of a way that the horse 

 should be pulled back by our thighs and seat, and that he 

 receives a backward propulsion from his forehand. 



At first, I encounter some hesitation on the part of the 



