1 86 BREAKING ON FOOT. 



fore to move simultaneously with the off hind, and the off 

 fore with the near hind, so that the rhythmical pace of the 

 rein-back will be a diagonal one of two time (namely, a 

 trot : see Points of the Horse, and not a walk) ; for the 

 horse is found to rein-back in an easier and more collected 

 manner at the former than at the latter pace. If he is 

 inclined to get his head up, it is best to stand directly 

 behind him. If he lowers it as a defence, we may rein 

 him back with one rein on the driving-pad (see Fig. 91), 

 or, what is probably the better plan, we may use a bearing- 

 rein to keep his head in proper position. Although we 

 should in no way make the work unduly irksome to the 

 horse, we should not be contented unless we get him, 

 in this second lesson, supposing, of course, that he is not 

 a particularly stupid pupil, to rein-back in well-balanced 

 style, twenty or five-and-twenty yards, three or four 

 times. Such a demand will, I feel certain, be considered 

 outrageously severe by those who are unacquainted with 

 the possibilities of the long-rein system ; but it is, as I 

 have proved many hundreds of times, with a competent 

 long-rein driver, a thoroughly legitimate one. If the 

 horse, as a defence against the rein-back, fixes his hind 

 quarters, we may render them mobile by cracking the whip 

 or by touching him lightly below the hocks with the lash. 

 We may also take some of the weight off the hind-quarter 

 by shortening the standing martingale. If we cannot 

 effect our purpose by these means, we may place an 

 assistant in front of the horse to threaten him on one side 

 of his hind-quarters and then on the other, while we are 

 occupied with the long reins. Or he may, while standing 

 in front of the horse, take hold of the reins, one in each 

 hand, close to the rings of the snaffle, and aid our efforts 

 in regulating the height of the horse's head and in pressing 

 him back. The presence of the assistant in front of the 



