248 RESTIVENESS: ITS PREVENTION AND CURE. 



being required there to regulate the action of the 

 horse's hind legs in the manner already described, 

 whilst the upright position of the body affords a basis 

 from which the arms can work. Next, instead of pull- 

 ing a dead pull on both reins alike, the rider must take 

 intermittent pulls on the one at the side he wishes to 

 turn towards, gradually increasing the strength of the 

 pull, and then as gradually relaxing to begin again ; 

 holding the other rein merely " counter," so that the 

 pressure shall be exerted only through the mouthpiece, 

 whatever the bit may be, and not through any other 

 portion of it, which would be useless. This intermit- 

 tent pull on the rein must, however, be always accom- 

 panied by a similar pressure of the leg, or, if necessary, 

 spur, at the same side, the rider's hand and leg acting 

 in perfect unison ; and this will never fail to turn the 

 horse gradually, just as is required. The circle affords, 

 however, not merely an opportunity for avoiding dan- 

 gerous obstacles ; its great value is, that it also enables 

 the rider, by gradually obtaining command over his 

 horse, to demonstrate to the latter the utter futility of 

 its attempt to get rid of him by running away, and 

 that, too, without violence or severity. One single 

 attempt at bolting away, if taken advantage of in this 

 manner by a judicious rider, may prove the means of 

 effectually subduing a troublesome animal. On the 

 other hand, such a rider will abstain carefully from 

 driving his horse to run away. 



It is more difficult to manage a horse that runs away 

 on the roads or in the streets of a town, because the 

 rider is more or less compelled to follow straight lines. 

 He can, however, unless the road be very narrow in- 

 deed, by using the rein and leg at each side alternately, 



