HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 91 



and takes with the hands. Some dull, heavy horses take a 

 considerable time before they understand and respond to the 

 pressure of the leg : others, light, active horses of a generous 

 disposition, acknowledge it almost at once, and require very 

 little leg to keep them up to their work. Generally, the best 

 time to begin using the legs is when the horse is going at a 

 steady trot ; then get a little more hold of him, and press the 

 calves of the legs quietly a little stronger, which generally 

 makes him step a little smarter, and brings his hind legs more 

 under him almost at once. 



Of course, no man can tell another how strong his aid 

 should be either with hand or leg. If a competent critic were 

 looking on at another person riding a young horse, or, in fact, 

 any horse, he could see if the horse required more or less than 

 the rider was giving him ; but every horseman must find out 

 for himself, and be able to judge if his horse be doing his 

 work properly. The horse should next be practised in turn- 

 ing to the right and left at a walk, and afterwards at a trot, 

 and the rider must be careful not to attempt to turn him too 

 short, but give him plenty of room to go round in in fact, 

 making a half-circle of the turn. He should in the turn, of 

 course, be supported with the outward leg and rein, and be 

 kept up to the hand by the pressure of the inward leg. A 

 square turn is not to be expected at first ; in fact, the rider 

 should be satisfied at first that his horse obeys the feeling of 

 the rein, and comes round to the hand without refusing or 

 attempting to stop, which he would most likely be inclined to 

 do if too much were asked from him. This simple lesson should 

 be continued until the rider is satisfied that the horse under- 

 stands and obeys willingly that is to say, that he stands quietly 

 and steadily when being mounted and dismounted, trots at a 

 lively, active pace without hurrying, carries himself fairly well 

 placed, turns pretty readily to either hand. Then, it always 

 being assumed that the horse is in good health and condition, 

 he may be advanced another stage in his breaking. 



