144 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



one can use the bridoon reins to raise the head, with, 

 if necessary, a short but vigorous action from below 

 upwards. The desired result having been obtained, 

 the legs should prevent the horse from moving slower. 

 One should not at first be exacting, and should yield 

 when the horse raises his head slightly in relaxing the 

 lower jaw. 



The gag snaffle also helps in overcoming this 

 defence. 



Horses which poke their noses. — The horse which 

 pokes his nose, holds his head high, and more or less 

 horizontal, the jaw being contracted ; a bad conforma- 

 tion predisposes to this fault, but this defective position 

 generally comes from the horse being badly ridden, and 

 consequently in fear of the hand. To correct it one 

 should fix the hand just above the pommel of the saddle, 

 the Yvins remaining stretched, close in the legs, press 

 the horse into his bridle, and close the fingers strongly 

 on the reins until the horse lowers the head slightly ; 

 one should then immediately relax the fingers and 

 yield. Repeat this lesson until the horse yields to the 

 least pressure of the fingers, and learns that the hand 

 is only hard when he pokes his nose, and that it yields 

 the moment he places his head properly. The use of 

 the rearing bit, and also the fixed or running martingale, 

 suggest themselves in this defence. 



Excitable horses. Horses which niggle.^ — The reasons 

 which cause excitement and make a horse niggle 

 are many. Some horses have too short a step in the 

 walk, and training should put this right. Others 

 lack impulsion and shrink from the leg : one should 

 renew the lesson of the spur, and keep them moving 

 forward. Others, owing to excessive nervousness 

 fidget, move sideways, and cannot support the pressure 



