1 1 6 Suppling the Croup. 



This suppling of Nelly's neck which you will 

 give her on her daily ride is only of the muscles 

 governing the direct up and down motion of the 

 head and neck. You are not overcoming the lat- 

 eral rigidities. This requires stable exercises. If 

 you have leisure for these (and you very likely 

 will make some when you find the strides in com- 

 fort and elegance Nelly is making), you will buy 

 one of the manuals I have told you about. What 

 you have taught her, however, is excellent so far 

 as it goes, and is time well employed. It will 

 serve its purpose upon the road, if it does not suf- 

 fice for the more perfect education. 



XXXVI. 



The next step will be for you to try to supple 

 the croup or hind-quarters of your mare. The 

 two things can go on together, though it is well 

 to get the forehand fairly suppled before begin- 

 ning on the croup. The flexions of the croup 

 are fully as important, if not more so, than those 

 of the forehand, and in their proper teaching lies 

 the root of your success. If you wear spurs, you 

 should be absolutely sure you will never touch 

 Nelly with them by accident. Spurs need not to 

 be severe in any event. It is uselessly cruel to 

 bring the blood, except in a race, where every 

 ounce of exertion must be called for. Spurs in 

 training or riding should never be used for pun- 



