ON THE ROAD. 581 



is no need to help with the right hand. The natural incli- 

 nation is precisely the opposite of this. 



Very little strength is required for the right management 

 of a broken horse. A weak young girl can manage nearly 

 any horse that has not been already spoiled by brutality. 

 The minimum of force, and the maximum of art are required. 

 In the minimum of resistance the maximum of art may 

 lie. 



The secret of stopping a horse is beginning soon enough. 

 You can nearly always feel that the horse is preparing for 

 a bolt. He rounds his back, braces himself, straightens the 

 reins, squirms, or gives other unmistakable signs of his 

 intentions. Watch his ears. You must begin as soon as 

 he does. If he once succeeds in getting out of your hands 

 no man on earth can stop him till he chooses, but any man 

 can stop him at the beginning. Talk to him then. Later 

 on you will have to watch for a chance if he lifts his head up, 

 and if you catch that right he may choose to stop. 



When you expect a horse to swerve, throw your body 

 the way he will go. There is a natural inclination the other 

 way. If taken quite unawares the retention of your seat will 

 depend on the grip at the knee, and on your power to 

 change your balance instantaneously. If a horse is given to 

 bucking, he will do it at the start before you are warm in 

 the saddle. Sit tight, and balance yourself; but he may last 

 longer than you can. It is quite an exhausting process. 

 I have seen a bad rearer treated both by pulling him over, 

 and by breaking a bottle of cold water between his ears. 

 Both plans are dangerous to the horse. As a general thing, 

 when in trouble the inexperienced rider is apt to get forward 

 towards his horse's neck. He had better lean back, for 



