ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 193 



standing quietly. The rider's legs are closed, lower legs slightly 

 in rear, to induce the horse to draw his legs under him. The 

 knees are not closed, unless he wavers to the right or left. The 

 hand is lowered and the rein drawn in. He arches his neck, 

 bringing the mass of his head and neck nearer to his body. At 

 the same time the rider leans back. The shifting of the mass of 

 the horse and rider to the rear throws the center of gravity to 

 the rear. The horse has " drawn his legs under him" at the 

 suggestion of his rider's heels, his balance is insecure in conse- 

 quence, and he steps back. He has done what the rider wishes 

 and, at the instant of yielding, the rider should encourage him 

 with hand and voice. The second time the request is made of 

 the horse by the same signals he steps back more readily, and 

 should instantly be rewarded. Finally, after repeated trials, the 

 horse learns that, when both of the rider's legs are brought back 

 with equal pressure, and he is reined straight back, he is ex- 

 pected to back, because he remembers that when he did re- 

 spond in that manner to those signals he was rewarded. 



Horses do not recognize persons; they do remember re- 

 wards and punishment. The author has often noticed, in the 

 riding-hall at West Point, where the same horse does duty for 

 two cadets on alternate days, that certain horses, as the platoon 

 is marched into the hall, appear to be looking for someone. 

 The cadet to whom the horse is assigned approaches him, and 

 the horse makes every sign of recognition, and is rewarded with 

 an apple or a bit of sugar. It seems almost unquestionable that 

 he has recognized an old friend. The next day the other cadet 

 to whom he is assigned approaches him; the horse gives the same 

 signs of looking for someone, then of recognition, and then of 

 disappointment. The second cadet is not his friend of the apple 

 or sugar; it was not the friend, after all, that he was seeking, 

 but the dainty that the friend was bringing. 



It is well for horse-users that horses are indifferent to the 

 identity of the persons handling them, otherwise they might ob- 

 —14— 



