Beginning the Flexions. 113 



than three and a half miles an hour. A four-mile 

 walk is a good one. Exceptionally, you may reach 

 the ideal five miles. I once knew a horse in 

 Ohio who walked (and not a running walk either, 

 but a square " heel and toe " walk) six miles in 

 an hour, on wagers. But our confab, Tom, often 

 gets too diffuse. Let us go on with our lesson. 



XXXV. 



Here we are quietly walking along the road. 

 Suppose you draw up the reins a bit, the curb 

 somewhat the more. Nelly will at once bring up 

 her head, and very naturally stick out her nose in 

 the endeavor to avoid the pressure of the curb 

 chain. At the same time, as you see, she will 

 shorten her steps. Don't jerk or worry her, but 

 still exert a gentle pressure on the curb, and keep 

 up a slight vibrating movement of the hands, 

 speaking to her kindly. In a moment or two, 

 she will arch her neck, and the bit will hang 

 loosely in her mouth. There, you see, her nose 

 comes down, and a handsome head and neck she 

 has ! Now pat her, and speak caressingly to her, 

 and after a few seconds release her head. When 

 these exercises are done on the stable floor, the 

 use of the snaffle will accomplish the same result, 

 and this is very desirable. But if you begin 

 these flexions on the road you must use the curb, 

 because Nelly now understands the snaflle to be 



