HOW TO RENDER HORSES OBEDIENT. 223 



perpendicular, the outer one being brought well back to 

 sustain the action on that side. Now the result of all 

 this is, that the inner hind leg is made to bear a some- 

 what increased proportion of the whole weight during 

 the passage of the corners as compared with the straight 

 line; and, thus by changing from one hand to the other, 

 the young horse learns to bend his hocks in succession, 

 and in an easy and gradual manner. After passing 

 through the corner, and getting on again to a straight 

 line, the action of the rider's legs is again equalised, 

 but his hands always remain in the position described, 

 as the horse's head must be kept slightly away from 

 the wall or barrier. 



This process is graduated thus : first, round off the 

 angles in a wide sweep, then gradually narrower ; se- 

 condly, halve and then quarter the manege, by which 

 means the angles will come more frequently into play; 

 finally, convert your smallest rectangle into a circle, 

 and wind up by diminishing its diameter, changing, of 

 course, from one hand to the other, in order to work 

 both hind legs equally. 



There are two distinct means employed here : first, 

 the getting the horse's head and neck up and back 

 to use a nautical expression again, more inboard ; se- 

 condly, to accustom the horse to bend its hocks and 

 haunches so as to take over a portion of the weight. 

 Unless greatly pressed for time, it is better not to com- 

 mence both processes at once, and much preferable to 

 devote attention, in the first instance, to the position 

 of the horse's head and neck ; and when some progress 

 has been made with these, then go on to the hind 

 legs. Therefore the seat and the position of the rider's 

 legs will be at first more analogous to the English 



