MILITARY RIDING NOT [CHAP. 



that he stiffens his neck or pokes his nose single-handed 

 indications are worth nothing. But as for riding a horse 

 perfectly on his haunches through a long day's journey, 

 or in rough or deep ground, or across country, one might 

 as well require infantry to make long forced marches at 

 ordinary time, and to strictly preserve their touch and 

 dressing ; or, still to compare it to opera-dancing, Coulon 

 to go through a day's shooting with the pas de zephir. 



But correct single-handed indications, with the fourth 

 finger only between the reins, will not be obeyed by one 

 horse in ten thousand. Try them in driving. There the 

 terret-pad prevents their being given incorrectly, and a 

 bearing-rein, a severe bit, and a whip, give you every 

 advantage in keeping your horse collected ; yet you will find 

 them wholly inefficient. The soldier, who is compelled to 

 turn to the right by word of command, when the correct 

 indication is unanswered, in despair throws his hand to 

 the right. The consequence is, that no horse is a good 

 soldier's horse, till he has been trained to turn on the 

 wrong rein. 



