OF FARRIERY. 



473 



on the grasp of his kness and thighs. For- 

 merly it was the practice to ride a galloper 

 with stirrup leathers too short, which made 

 the seat unsteady, and too much dependence 

 was placed for support on the reins. It is 

 obviously impossible to lay down a precise 

 rule in this case. The length at which to ride 

 a racing pace, whether trot or gallop, must 

 be left to the judgment and convenience of the 

 rider, with the remark that, of the extremes, 

 riding too short is the worst. Rising in the 

 trot, and lifting and working the Horse along 

 with the reins in the gallop by the jockey, 

 are, no doubt, practices purely English. 



Beyond the slow trot the motion of few 

 Horses is sufficiently smooth and easy to 

 encourage the rider to sit upon the saddle, 

 nor is the appearance of such a seat very 

 seemly ; it is preferable then, if more speed 

 in the trot be desired, to advance to that 

 degree in which the rider may rise in his 

 stiirups; in order to perform this easily and 

 gracefully, the rate must be somewhat con- 

 siderable. To put the Horse into a canter, a 

 touch of the left heel, and a gentle puli of tSee 

 right rein, for which the right hand may be 

 used, is the proper method. 



On any critical occasion, whether of em- 

 barrassment on the road, or from unquietness 

 in the Horse, the reins may be taken separately 

 in each hand ; and it is much practised both 

 in riding and driving. It obviously increases 

 the rider's power over the Horse, and is use- 

 ful in case of starting and shying, or the 

 attempt in the animal to turn round, in plung- 

 ing, kicking, or rearing. In the latter case, 

 common sense will inform the rider that he 

 must lean forward with slack reins, or he may 

 pull the Horse over ; certainly one of the most 

 dangerous accidents among the many which 



appertain to Horsemanship. Whilst leanino 

 forward, he should apply his spur.s sharply to 

 the Horse's sides, which punishment will cure 

 the Horse of this vice, granting it be curable. 



In the opposite habit of kicking out be- 

 hind, which some Horses have the knack of 

 doing very high and hard, with Jerks not over 

 comfortable to the rider's back-bone, the pre- 

 cisely opposite course is dictated, in order to 

 avoid a somerset over the Horse's shoulders 

 The rule now is, sit back, sit fast, puli hard, 

 holding the Horse's head as high as possible, 

 and spur with all your force at every interval 

 of kicking ; and finding the opportunity, use 

 your whip effectually on the tliigh, the belly, 

 and if necessary, oir :he jaws of the animal. In 

 a confirmed case of vice, nothing short of in- 

 timidation and absolute conquest will succeed. 

 Such severity indeed, instead of a cure, may 

 sometimes produce desperation ; and when 

 patience and mild measures will succeed, they 

 are infinitely preferable. We would always 

 recommend that spurs be worn ; with a res- 

 tive Horse they are indispensable, and in the 

 case of being placed between two objects, one 

 of which alarms the Horse, and the other 

 dangerous for him to come in contact with ; 

 the spur on the dangerous side is of unspeak- 

 able use, as the rider's chief dependence in 

 aid of his hand, to i-'^ep the Horse in his safe 

 and proper place. 



We have spoken of terrifying the vicious 

 Horse into subordination by severity ; but a 

 man of right feeling and reflection will always 

 endeavour to render his Horse's labour as 

 little irksome, and as comfortable to him as 

 may be possible, and will therefore give him 

 his rein, and bear as lightly on his mouth as 

 is consistent with such a hold upon liim as 

 may be necessary upon any emergency ; and 

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