EARLY EDUCATION OF THE HORSE. 75 



but any smooth ground will answer, where there is 

 nothing to distract his attention. 



It is intended that the horse shall carry his croup 

 around his forehand, the outside fore-leg acting as the 

 pivot in the movement. The trainer will stand at the 

 shoulder of the horse, and, if the first movement is to 

 be made to the right, on the near side of the horse. 



With his left hand he will take both reins of the curb 

 at about four inches from the branch of the bit. He will 

 then induce the horse to give his jaw, and to bring his 

 head into a perpendicular position, by drawing the reins 

 in gentle vibrations towards the chest of the horse, yield- 

 ing the hand whenever the horse answers to the pressure, 

 and repeating the operation whenever the horse shows a 

 disposition to go out of hand. With the whip he will 

 then tap the horse on the rump until the hind legs are 

 brought well under the body. The horse will then be in 

 a position to make a move in any direction without any 

 further preparation. 



The horse being thus collected, the trainer will give 

 gentle taps of the whip upon his near flank, until the 

 animal moves one step to the right, the forehand being 

 held stationary by the bit in the left hand, and resistance 

 of that part overcome by feeling the right side of the 

 mouth. As soon as this one step to the right, by the 

 hind-quarters, is taken, the taps of the whip must cease, 

 and the horse should be encouraged, so that he may 

 know that his effort has met with approval. 



This change of position will throw him out of line, his 

 off fore-leg being far in the rear. By a tap of the whip 

 upon the off fore-arm he will be brought straight, and 



