220 HANDS AND LEGS (AIDS). 



the flaps of the saddle should be increased, so as to avoid 

 placing much more weight on one stirrup than on the other 

 stirrup, which might have the effect of disarranging the posi- 

 tion of the saddle. In such cases, it is almost impossible 

 during rapid movement to help putting a little more weight 

 on one stirrup than on the other. 



VOICE. 



" The horse's keen perception of sound makes the human 

 voice a powerful means of controlling and guiding him by 

 association of ideas. As he readily recognises change of tone, 

 but not of words, we should reserve a particular tone for 

 each of our different orders, the number of which should be 

 kept as small as possible, so that ambiguity may be avoided. 

 Also it is, of course, well to have only one unvarying word or 

 expression for each order .... We should carefully refrain 

 from wearying the attention of the animal by needlessly 

 speaking to him. In fact, we should reserve the use of our 

 voice for occasions on which it is needed to produce a definite 

 effect " (Illustrated Horse-Breaking}. 



POSITION OF THE HANDS. 



A horse at the trot, canter or gallop, usually carries his 

 head at an angle of about 45 to the ground, in which 

 position the higher the snaffle reins are held above the 

 withers, the greater will be the tendency of the mouth-piece 

 to slip off the bars of the mouth and come on to the corners 

 of the mouth, in which case the snaffle will act improperly. 

 Hence, in two-handed riding, we may safely accept the 

 old rule of holding the snaffle reins with one hand on each 

 side of the withers, or as little above the withers as practic- 

 able. If the horse gets his head too low down, we 

 should naturally raise the hands, in order to place it in 

 correct position, which can be determined only from the 



