126 Importance of Croup Flexions. 



more flexing of the croup than you can give him 

 on the road; but it is worth your while to put 

 Nelly through some exercises which I will explain 

 to you. It will save time in the end. Their 

 eventual object is so to supple the croup as to 

 render the hind-quarters subject to the rider's will, 

 and absolutely under the control of the horse as 

 directed by him. The flexions of the croup are 

 in reality more important than those of the fore- 

 hand. Unless a horse's hind-quarters are well 

 under him and so thoroughly suppled as to obey 

 the slightest indication of the rider's leg, he is 

 lacking in the greatest element of his education, 

 if he is to be made a School-horse. At the same 

 time a supple croup and a rigid forehand cannot 

 work in unison. Both should be elastic in equal 

 degree. 



For the purpose of beginning the croup flex- 

 ions, you can best use the stable floor, or other 

 convenient spot, say after mounting as you start, 

 or before dismounting as you return from your 

 ride, or, better, both. And this is what you 

 should do. 



Suppose you are standing on the stable floor, 

 mounted. Any other place will do, but you want 

 to be where you are quite undisturbed. Bring 

 Nelly in hand by gathering up the reins quietly, 

 so as not to disturb her equanimity or her posi- 

 tion. Perhaps you had better hold the reins in 



