124 THE ART OF TAMING HOESES. 



"Placing one hand on the horse's mane, make him lean 

 down to each side in succession, till he reaches to with- 

 in a short distance of the ground." " These exercises 

 give a man a firm hold with his legs, on a horse, and 

 teach him to move his limbs without quitting his seat. 

 Then take him in the circle in the longe, and, by walk- 

 ing and trotting alternately, teach him the necessity of 

 leaning with the body to the side the horse is turning 

 to. This is the necessary balance. Then put him with 

 others, and give him plenty of trotting, to shake him 

 into his seat. By degrees teach him how to use the 

 reins, then the leg." 



These directions for training a full-grown trooper 

 may be of use to civilians. 



HANDS AND BEINS. 



Presuming that you are in a fair way to obtain a secure 

 seat, the next point is the use of the reins and the em- 

 ployment of your legs, for it is by these that a horse- 

 man holds, urges, and turns his horse. To handle a horse 

 in perfection, you must have, besides instruction, " good 

 hands." Good or light hands, like the touch of a first- 

 rate violinist, are a gift, not always to be acquired even 

 by thought and practice. The perfection of riding is 

 to make your horse understand and obey your direc- 

 tions, as conveyed through the reins to halt, or go 

 fast or slow; to walk, trot, canter, or gallop ; to lead off 

 with right or left leg, to change leg, to turn either way, 

 and to rise in leaping at the exact point you select. 

 No one but a perfect horseman, with naturally fine 

 hands, can do this perfectly, but every young horseman 

 should try. 



