I02 Position of Hands. 



and a jog greatly relieves a tired horse. It 

 seems to be unjustly tabooed. Unless, then, you 

 are ultra-fashionable, make a habit of jogging 

 now and then. By this I mean jogging with 

 your horse " collected," so that you have not an 

 ounce of hold on his mouth, and he is still un- 

 der your absolute control, your seat meanwhile 

 being firm and unshaken. But never let the 

 horse jog of his own motion. That may spoil 

 his walk. Make him jog only when you want 

 him to do so, and when walking, do not let him 

 fall into a jog unbidden. The jog I mean should 

 be almost a parade gait ; too slow to rise to, but 

 still perfect in action, and so poised that from it 

 your horse can bound into any faster gait at 

 word. 



Your hands are too high. They want to be 

 but a couple of inches above the pommel, better 

 lower than higher. A man whose reins wear out 

 the pigskin on his pommel is all right. A horse 

 who carries his head high needs lower hands. 

 Some low-headed horses require the hands to be 

 held a bit higher to stimulate the forehand. 



It is difficult to say thus much without saying 

 a great deal more ; for this is but a hint of what 

 is essential to correct such a physical defect as 

 a low-carried head. But what I tell you will 

 whet your appetite for a thorough knowledge, 

 and this you will find in the books of Baucher's 



