HAN-DS AND LEGS. 67 



upon himself, but that so long as he is obedient to the 

 bit he finds comfort. To this end the hand will firmly 

 resist any attempts of the horse to go beyond the limit 

 fixed, but it will make a concession whenever he yields 

 his opposition. The next step will be to make him relax 

 his jaw and bring his head into position, so that there 

 will be no opposition to the bit. To accomplish this 

 the rider will be mounted and the horse will be kept 

 upon his ground. Taking the curb-reins in the left 

 hand, the rider will make gentle vibrations of the right 

 rem with the right hand until the horse gives the jaw. 

 A word of encouragement will be given, and the tension 

 will be released. Then, changing the curb-reins into 

 the right hand, the same thing will be done with the left 

 rein by the left hand. After the horse will yield to 

 either side, he will be induced to give up the opposition 

 of the jaw, and bring the head into position by the same 

 vibrating motions of the two reins at equal length. If 

 the horse hangs upon the bit, he will be induced to bring 

 up his head and carry his own weight by a few pulls 

 upon the snaffle-bit, from below upwards. But there is 

 never to be a steady tension upon the bit ; the horse is 

 to be kept in hand by a series of slight touches, that are 

 to be relaxed the moment the resistance ends. When 

 there is a steady pull, no matter how light it may be, the 

 equilibrium is destroyed. 



By a pressure of the legs the horse will be made to 

 bring his hind-legs in under him, a forward movement 

 being prevented, and lightness in front being secured, by 

 the means above recited. When these forces from the 

 forehamd and from the croup are gathered and balanced. 



