BENDING TO THE REIN. 19 



however, we can get the animal to bend his neck and draw 

 in his head without raising or lowering it to any marked 

 extent (say, with the snaffle reins more or less horizontal, 



Fig. 26. The Canter. 



while the hands are kept down as in Fig. 26), we shall lighten 

 the fore-hand without injuriously interfering with the action 

 of the bridle. The faculty of bending to the rein in this 



Fig. 27. Side view of Horse's lower jaw. 



manner was evidently possessed by the horse of which Whyte 

 Melville sung : " A better never bent him to the rein." 



By bending a horse's neck according to the principle 

 just stated, we are able not only to lighten the fore-hand, 



