SPECIAL FOEMS OF RESTIVENESS. 259 



the horizon ; the hocks, therefore, will be still bent 

 somewhat (refer to Plate I. and fig. 4 to realise the 

 mechanism of the hind leg). This is the moment to 

 screw both spurs as forcibly as possible into the horse's 

 sides, the effect of which is, as we know, to bend the 

 hocks, if the hand be held counter j therefore the ani- 

 mal will, in nine cases out of ten, make a plunge for- 

 ward, and having preserved throughout a proper de- 

 gree of feeling with the reins, the rider will be enabled 

 to catch the horse in the air and bring it to the ground, 

 so that the hind legs should touch this, if possible, a 

 moment sooner than the fore ones, or at least so that 

 they should get the greater part of the shock. This 

 is in itself a very severe correction, and one that good 

 school-riders apply with great effect, with other forms 

 of insubordination, not hesitating even to provoke an 

 attempt at rearing in order to have the opportunity ; if 

 it be well done it may perhaps suffice once for all. 



It may, however, happen that the horse has con- 

 trived to stick out its head (top one, fig. 7) and stiffen 

 its hocks completely, so as to enable it to stand up- 

 right before the rider has made up his mind what to 

 do. Well, even then the game is not lost, if only the 

 rider has a seat and patience to wait, just as in the 

 lounging process, till he feels his steed coming down 

 out of the clouds, which it is sure to do some time or 

 another, when, if his hands and legs are right, he will 

 be ready to act as described in the preceding paragraph 

 on the horse getting down to 45 degrees. In case the 

 rider finds the horse actually falling, either directly 

 backwards or to one side, let him throw himself off 

 with a vigorous push of both hands so as to get clear. 

 This we have done ourselves more than once; but the 



