286 RIDING OVER A COUNTRY. 



the rider prompts the horse to throw up his head, and thus 

 not only checks the action of the animal's hind quarters, at 

 the very moment their assistance is most needed, but also 

 prevents him from seeing where he is going to put his feet on 

 landing ; and consequently he performs the very action which 



Fig. 216. Hands down and reins a good length. 



is best calculated to make the animal fall. On the contrary, 

 he should keep his hands low down, so that the horse may be 

 able to bend his neck, and carry his head in the best position 

 for conforming to the action of his hind quarters, and to see 

 where he can put his feet. 



As the proportion of weight on the forehand increases 



