266 SCHOOL BREAKING. 



touched with the whip in this manner, without having pre- 

 viously brought his fore legs to the front. To be precise, 

 we should touch the near or off side of the croup to make 

 the horse bring up, respectively, the near or off hind leg. 

 If necessary, we can prevent him by the reins from 

 going forward, or from turning round. Having taught 

 him on foot to collect himself at the halt, we may mount 

 him, and by holding the reins in one hand and by touching 

 him on the croup with the whip held in the other hand, we 

 may make him bring his hind legs under him as before 

 described. Or we may hold in each hand a rein, and a 

 whip to be applied to the side. By using the drawn-back 

 heel, with or without spurs, at the same time as the whip, 

 by increasing the effect of the heel while diminishing 

 that of the whip, and by restraining with the reins any 

 forward movement, we can soon teach the horse to collect 

 himself at the halt by means of the heel and rein. If one 

 hind leg be less advanced than the other, we should give the 

 horse the signal to bring it forward by touching him with 

 the drawn-back foot of the same side, and should place a 

 preponderance of weight on the stirrup of the opposite side. 

 When attempting to collect a horse, we should, as a rule, 

 raise his head, so as to bring the weight back. 



COLLECTING THE HORSE AT THE WALK AND TROT. 



Having collected the horse at the halt, we may put him 

 into the walk by increasing the pressure of the drawn-back 

 feet, and slightly yielding the reins. We may obtain collec- 

 tion at either the walk or trot by applying the drawn-back 

 foot at the same moment as the forefoot of that side comes 

 down, by placing more weight on the opposite stirrup, and 

 by feeling the opposite rein the stronger, while checking 

 the forward movement with both reins. By this manner 



