74 Curb, Snaffle, and Spur. 



exertion, it can only be sustained for the moment, 

 and the horse must either make some movement, 

 or grow heavy or disorderly. The half-halt 

 is employed in teaching the gallop changes, in 

 making marked changes of directions, as in the 

 pirouettes direct and reversed, and in bringing 

 the horse to a finished halt from action. There 

 may be intermediate forms of collection ; but 

 the three we have fixed upon have their uses and 

 their distinctive peculiarities. For example, if 

 the forces are more closely collected than " the 

 union," we should have a pause in each stride, 

 as is the case in the " passage ;" or if the forces 

 are less closely collected than in " the union," 

 we might have more action than when " in 

 hand," but lose the brilliancy and the bold 

 strides of "the union." 



" In hand " is, therefore, the lowest form of 

 collection in which we can have suppleness and 

 clear even paces. 



" The union" is where we have the closest 

 collection compatible with uninterrupted motion. 



" The poise " is a half-halt, produced by bring- 

 ing the forces of the extremities to a point of 

 union and balance, and can be maintained for 



