30 ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



to the other. The rowel apphed near the elbow causes 

 the relaxation of the lower jaw. 



Baucher had such belief in the efficacy of the 

 " attack of the spurs " (not necessarily with sharp 

 rowels), that he stated that it was impossible to train 

 any horse without gradually accustoming him to them, 

 and that it was with the spurs, helped by the hands, 

 that he made gracious the most disagreeable natures, 

 and succeeded in perfecting the education of the most 

 intractable horse. 



He commenced by using the spur on one side only, 

 and checking the horse with the rein on the other side, 

 until the horse took the touch of each spur without 

 resentment, when he closed in both spurs, without 

 actually touching the sides, and then, after strengthen- 

 ing the hand, he felt the sides with the spurs lightly, 

 the points of the rowels merely touching the hair, and 

 with a vibratory action of the legs, causing the horse to 

 bring his hind legs well under the body, without offering 

 any resistance to the hand. It is important that the 

 horse should be balanced by the hand and legs before 

 the spurs attacks are given, as the better balanced a 

 horse is the less the touches of the spurs disturb him, 

 because he can answer to them so readily. 



As an exceptional and powerful means of control 

 when a trained horse is very excited, and inclined to 

 get the better of the rider, the latter can stop him, and 

 then tie him up between the spurs and the bit by 

 gripping the saddle firmly with the knees and legs, and 

 pressing in the spurs steadily quite close to the girths, 

 whilst feeling the horse's mouth lightly but with un- 

 yielding firmness ; the reins being held short and the 

 upper part of the body inclined forward. 



No one who is not quite sure of his seat should 



