THE WALK. 193 



ered, when the rein-hold may be relaxed. In 

 such a case, the rider must be on her guard, as 

 a horse which stops in this manner may rear, 

 when she must immediately yield the reins. 



The stop, especially in rapid gaits and when 

 effected suddenly, is very trying to the horse ; 

 it should therefore be made only when neces- 

 sary, and never to display the rider's superior 

 command and excellent horse womanship ; many 

 horses, particularly those having weak loins, 

 have been caused much suffering and have had 

 their dispositions completely ruined by a too 

 frequent and injudicious practice of the stop. 



In reining back or backing in the walk, the 

 horse bends his haunches and places one of his 

 hind-legs under his body, upon which to rest 

 and balance himself ; this enables him to collect 

 force to impel his croup backward. To favor 

 this movement, the horse must be collected, 

 brought to stand square and even on his fore- 

 legs, and then be reined backward by a firm, 

 steady, and equal pull upon both the right and 

 left snaffle-reins. 1 The hands should be held 

 low and directly in front of the body, with the 

 knuckles down, and the little fingers turned up 

 and carried toward the body. During this 



1 If the horse be tender in the mouth the snaffle-reins had 

 better be used in backing ; if not, the curb. 

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