REINING BACK. 63 



in the opposite direction to the head and neck ; the 

 centre round which the movement is made, being 

 advanced or brought back, according as the turn 

 is made "on the forehand," or " on the haunches." 



Reining back. It is an axiom of the riding-school, 

 worthy of implicit acceptance, that, until a horse has 

 learned to rein back with facility and precision, he 

 cannot be considered to have a good mouth ; for, by 

 performing this movement in the manner described, 

 he shews that he is intelligently obedient to the 

 indications of the rein, in yielding to its pressure, 

 and, at the same time, in bringing his hind-legs 

 "well under" him. Herein lies the value of the 

 practice of reining back, which teaches the animal 

 to understand that a pull on the reins is quite as 

 much a signal for him to " collect" himself, as to 

 moderate his pace. Hence, the use of a judicious 

 pull when going at high " timber," or when galloping 

 through heavy ground, especially, when the horse is 

 tired. If, when travelling fast, the animal will only 



