232 MOUNTED BREAKING. 



capable rider would content himself with giving the signal, 

 and with looking after the adjustment of his own weight 

 (by sitting tight on the saddle and leaning back), over 

 which the animal could, of course, exercise no control. 



WHIP AND SPURS. 



These articles of riding gear may be used as aids or as 

 stimulants. Their function as aids is to make the horse 

 remove from their contact that portion of his body which 

 is touched or threatened by them, or to check its approach 

 if it happens to come in their direction. Thus, in the 

 turn on the forehand, we cause the hind-quarters to revolve 

 in the desired direction by the pressure of the drawn-back 

 heel ; and in the turn on the hind-quarters (see page 272), 

 we check that movement by the same means, in which 

 case the pressure has to be patiently borne not avoided. 

 When we use whip, spurs, or unarmed heels as a general 

 stimulant, we should manifestly apply them, as nearly 

 as possible, at a point midway between the respective 

 actions of the fore and hind legs ; that is, close behind 

 the girth. 



When teaching the horse to obey the whip, either as an 

 aid or as a stimulant, we should be careful to use it in such 

 a way that he will not become unsteady in the event of 

 his rider carrying anything in his hand. 



As the horse's natural impulse on being touched is to 

 remove the offending object by twitching his skin, brushing 

 it off by his tail or mane, kicking it, biting at it, rubbing 

 it against some hard substance, or other similar means, 

 none of which will assist us in breaking ; we have got to 

 teach him to interpret, agreeably to our conventional code, 

 and not according to his instinct, the signal we give 

 with whip, spur, or heel. As I have already said, on 



