The Old and New Manege. 117 



ishment. They will be too essential in convey- 

 ing your meaning to Penelope for you to throw- 

 away their value in bad temper. The horse should 

 learn that the spur is an encouragement and an 

 indication of your wishes, and should be taught 

 to receive its attack without wincing or anger. 



The old habit of the manege was to force all 

 the weight of the horse, by the power of a severe 

 curb bit, back upon his haunches, and oblige him 

 to execute all the airs in a position all but poised 

 upon his hind legs. The modern dispensation 

 endeavors to effect better results by teaching the 

 animal to be constantly balanced upon all four 

 legs, and, by having his forces properly distrib- 

 uted, to be in a condition to move any of them at 

 the will of his rider in any direction, without dis- 

 turbing this balance. Moreover, the element of 

 severity has been eliminated from training alto- 

 gether. 



Suppose, then, that you are walking Nelly and 

 are holding her head in poise. Now bring your 

 legs gently together, so as to slightly touch her 

 sides. You will see that she at once moves 

 quickly towards the bit. Here she must find her- 

 self held in check by it. The result of the two 

 conditions will be that she will get her hind legs 

 somewhat more under her than usual. It is just 

 this act, properly done, which produces the equi- 

 librium desired. When a horse is what is termed 



