APPENDIX 117 



from the sides between each touch, whilst keeping the 

 legs closed in. This drives the horse forward. 



Le pincer delicat de I'eperon of M. de la Gueriniere 

 is applied by closing in the legs and dropping the toes 

 so that the rowels only just touch the hair, without 

 penetrating to the skin, and is used to cause the horse to 

 chew the bit, either when standing still or when in 

 motion, and to collect and animate him before using the 

 legs alternately, as in the Spanish trot, etc. 



(c) The Foot. Dropping the heels, hardens the 

 muscles of the calves, makes the legs operative, and 

 stimulates the horse to increased exertion. Dropping 

 the toes slackens the muscles of the calves, and, if at the 

 same time the rider presses his shoulders back and 

 closes the fingers on the reins, causes the horse to 

 decrease his pace and stop, unless the ankles and spurs 

 are closed in. When the foot is level the legs are 

 passive and the horse maintains his pace. Bending 

 the ankle inwards so that the side of the foot touches 

 the horse, is one of the "fine" aids. 



The position of the hands. — When the reins are 

 separated, the knuckles of the hands vertical, the 

 wrists arched and the fingers open, the horse has not 

 anything to pull against, and he will amuse himself 

 with the bit and be happy in his mouth, until he wants 

 his own way, when the fingers being closed on the 

 reins, the wrists, joints and arms become fixed, the 

 spurs make him yield to the hands. 



When the knuckles are more or less horizontal and 

 the fingers open, the horse feels a steady even feeling 



