134 THE HORSE. 



fore the second strap is called into play, especially if the operator 

 has not acquired great skill in the use of the apparatus. When 

 this is done, and the second strap is applied, and slipped through 

 the surcingle, as shown at page 133, taking care to put a stout 

 glove on the right hand, the left rein is taken in the left hand, and 

 gently jerked using, if necessary, the usual slight stimulus with 

 the tongue, to make the horse move, which he can only do by 



THE HORSE BOUNDING ON HIS HIND LEGS. 



raising the off fore leg off the ground in the action known as hop- 

 ping. The moment this begins, the right hand firmly draws the 

 off leg up to the surcingle, and keeps it there, when the horse must 

 either bound into the air on his hind legs, or he must go down on 

 the ground, supported from falling on his side in the attitude of 

 kneeling. To avoid mischief, therefore, the loose box or yard 

 where the operation is carried on should be thickly bedded with 

 straw; for no knee-caps are stout enough to protect the joints from 

 injury on hard ground; nor, if they escape being bruised, will the 

 shock to the body on falling be at all safe. Even straw can hardly 

 be relied on, if the floor beneath is of brick, stone, pebbles, or 

 hard natural soil ; for it is apt to give way during the struggles of 



