172 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



one or other of the extremities, which repre 

 sent the scales, will immediately send them 

 in the direction we wish. The rider will 

 know that his horse is completely gathered 

 when he feels him ready, as it were, to rise 

 from all four of his legs. The proper posi 

 tion first, and then the use of the spurs, will 

 make this beautiful execution of the gather 

 ing easy to both horse and rider ; and what 

 splendor, grace, and majesty it gives the 

 animal ! If we have been obliged at first 

 to use the spurs in pushing this concentra 

 tion of forces to its farthest limits, the legs 

 will afterwards be sufficient to obtain the 

 gathering necessary for the precision and 

 elevation required in all complicated move 

 ments. 



Need I recommend discretion in your 

 demands? I think not. If the rider, hav 

 ing reached this stage of his horse s educa 

 tion, cannot comprehend and seize that 



