216 HANDS AND LEGS (AIDS). 



own impetuosity would make him keep his hind legs in 

 active movement, even when the forward reach of the fore 

 ones was somewhat checked by the reins. 



THE LEGS. 



The only part of the legs which is effective as an aid, is 

 that which is below the knees ; because, as we know from 

 experience, the pressure of the knees or thighs produces no 

 well-defined indication. The strongest leg indication is that 

 by the spur; the next strongest, that by the heel; and the 

 mildest, that given by the side of the drawn-back foot or 

 by the calf of the leg. As a general stimulant (a stimulant 

 to both hind and fore limbs) for the horse to go on, both 

 spurs or both heels should be simultaneously applied as 

 nearly as possible to the part of the animal's sides that is 

 mid-way between the action of the two pairs of limbs, with 

 the object of dividing the stimulation equally between 

 them. Hence, when capable jockeys use spurs, they apply 

 them close behind the girth. To use the spurs as a hint to 

 the horse to go on, when the feet are in proper position, 

 as in Fig. 187, the toes should be turned out, and the 

 feet should be brought to the sides without the heels being 

 raised or drawn back ; for either of these actions would 

 more or less tear the skin, instead of merely pricking it at 

 one spot. Bad riders, on account of allowing their legs to 

 swing backwards and fonvards, often involuntarily spur a 

 horse about the shoulders ; and men who never ought to have 

 been given a mount, have been known to spur a horse on 

 the stifles. Spurs used by inferior horsemen should be very 

 short in the neck. 



When the spur or heel (on one or both sides) is applied 

 well to the rear of the girths by the drawn-back foot, it 

 acts as a signal to the animal to bring forward the hind 

 leg of that side (or both hind legs, as the case may be). 



