72 ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



taking the reins, which have been passed over the horse's 

 neck, in the left hand at their full length, while the right 

 hand holds the whip ; then standing well away from 

 the horse he taps the chest with the whip and follows 

 any backward movement till the horse answers by 

 moving forward, when he should vigorously pat him. 



When the horse goes freely forward to the whip 

 the trainer can commence the flexions of the lower jaw 

 and neck with the horse stationary ; he places the reins 

 over the head on to the neck, and then standing near 

 the horse's shoulder he takes hold of the left bridoon 

 rein near the ring between the thumb and first finger 

 of the left hand, and the curb rein between the second 

 and third fingers, while the right hand, holding the 

 whip with the point towards the horse's tail, takes up 

 the right curb rein on the near side about half-way 

 down the shoulder, after it has passed over the neck 

 close against the withers. He then taps the croup 

 with the whip and meets the impulse by closing the 

 fingers on the left reins, and repeats this till the horse 

 yields the lower jaw, raises the neck and bends it at 

 the nape ; he then pats him and slackens the reins. 

 If the horse moves back, the finger and thumb of the 

 left hand immediately draw him forward with the 

 bridoon rein. If he moves forward the right and left 

 hand check him. The trainer must remember that in 

 all work on foot it is of the greatest importance that 

 the reins should be handled very lightly, and that the 

 whip should be gentle in its action when giving indica- 

 tions of the trainer's wishes ; he should only apply force 

 when it is necessary to explain to the horse that he is 

 doing wrong, and even then shaking the reins and a 

 scolding is better. 



The trainer then allows the horse to move forward, 



