THE OBJECT OF BUEAKING 69 



exercise to which he will have to submit later on, 

 when being ridden with one hand, teach him to turn, 

 say to the right, with the left rein. It is sufficient, to 

 obtain this result, to make use of the corners of the 

 school, and make the horse do some circular movement 

 by opening the rein ; and the moment the horse com- 

 mences to obey, we should substitute the action of the 

 indirect rein by carrying the left hand forward and to 

 the right ; the opened rein acts as an interpreter to 

 the indirect rein, and the moment this latter comes into 

 play we should cease the action of the opened rein and 

 drop the right hand, so as to allow the indirect rein 

 to have its full effect. After several successive and 

 alternative indications of these two actions, the rider 

 diminishes and then suppresses the employment of the 

 opened rein, in proportion as the horse better under- 

 stands Avhat is wanted of him. 



The rein-back. — This is a very secondary move- 

 ment in breaking. It should only be executed when 

 on foot, and only a few steps at a time. 



It is to these elementary notions of the aids that 

 the first lessons confine themselves, before taking the 

 horse out into the open. Every possible movement at 

 all the paces comes from four elementary actions, 

 which it is necessary to make him understand, im- 

 mediately and separately, before associating them so as 

 to produce combined effects. These actions are, to 

 move forward to the pressure of the legs ; to slow 

 down, or stop, on the reins being stretched ; to move 

 the shoulders and the quarters to the side. These 

 elements being well understood by the horse, the 

 ordinary riding exercises, judiciously arranged accord- 

 ing to his powers, development, and health, finish his 

 education. This will be the work of the final trainin^f. 



