246 EESTIVENESS : ITS PKEVENTION AND CURE. 



cated in a previous chapter. This will, of course, re- 

 quire a higher and gradually ascending position of the 

 neck; "but as the difficulty probably arises in the junc- 

 tion of the head with this part of the body, no attempt 

 should be made to bend the nose downwards, for that 

 is what annoys the horse. The best gear will be a 

 bearing-rein like that used for carriage-horses, but with 

 the rings as close under the horse's ears as possible, so as 

 to lift the neck unbent at the part known as the poll. 

 In both cases the dumb-jockey is useful if judiciously 

 employed. 



Subsequently, when the horse has learned to bend its 

 hocks, you may bit it with a light well-fitted bit, which 

 will bend the neck downwards without altering the 

 junction with the head ; in fact, what is technically 

 termed " a false bend " will be attained, which, how- 

 ever, suffices to render the animal controllable so long 

 as the rider preserves the mastery over its hind legs, 

 by keeping his own close to its body. In riding such 

 horses, it is useful, when you find them beginning to 

 rush, to bring them by gentle means to stand still, throw- 

 ing your own body, from the hips upwards, somewhat 

 forward, and easing the reins altogether for a moment ; 

 whereas the common practice of unskilful riders is to 

 throw themselves back and pull like grim death. 



Reining back may also be employed, but not with 

 horses that are weak behind, nor otherwise than in a 

 proper position, so that the horse retires gently the 

 contrary of backing, and never as a punishment. Gen- 

 erally it will be preferable to stand still, and encourage 

 the horse, by feeling its mouth, to champ the mouth- 

 piece, when the stiffness of the head and neck will 

 gradually relax, and it may be put in motion again. 



