PULLING. 307 



should be taught to go in a collected manner (see page 221), 

 for when collected he will be unable to resist the control 

 of hand and leg. We should circle, turn and rein him 

 back by means of the long reins (see page 168) ; and 

 having got him obedient and." supple " to them, we may 

 put him through a large portion of the school work 

 described in Chapter IX., especially that which has refer- 

 ence to collection. Cantering the horse in circles of 

 gradually decreasing size will have a good effect in breaking 

 him of pulling, by teaching him to go collectedly. 



A horse whose defence in pulling is to lighten the fore- 

 hand will carry his head high in the air. After taking 

 the " nonsense " out of him in the manner already des- 

 cribed, we should endeavour to correct the defective 

 carriage of the head by circling the animal with the long 

 reins while using a standing martingale on the rings of 

 the snaffle, and while keeping the outward rein round the 

 hind-quarters. Frequently turning him, especially at the 

 canter, will have a good effect in making him lower his 

 head and bend his neck. When circling such a horse with 

 the long reins, we should confine ourselves almost entirely 

 to the use of the inward rein, so as to place as much weight 

 as possible on the forehand. The size of the circle should 

 be gradually diminished. Such horses should not be 

 practised in the rein-back. A course of harness- work, so 

 as to accustom the animal to put an increased amount of 

 weight on his forehand, might be useful with a horse of 

 this kind. 



The question of what is the best bit for holding a puller, 

 is a difficult one to answer. Personally, I am entirely in 

 favour of an unjointed leather-covered snaffle (see page 168) 

 used with a standing martingale attached to its rings. In 

 a few instances, I find a curb (with a low port) useful ; but 

 only when it is placed low down in the mouth (just clear 



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