THE HAND GALLOP. 241 



mind, and not permit any nervousness or ex- 

 citement on her part to increase that of her 

 horse. She must keep him well under the con- 

 trol of the curb-bit, and not allow him to in- 

 crease his speed ; when he endeavors to do so, 

 she must sit erect, and every time his fore-feet 

 touch the ground she must tighten the curb- 

 reins, by drawing them gradually but firmly 

 toward her waist. She will thus check the 

 animal's desire to increase his speed, by com- 

 pelling him to rest upon her hand at short 

 intervals until he can be brought under com- 

 mand and again made obedient. Care must be 

 taken not to make this strong pull upon the 

 animal's mouth constant, as this will be more 

 apt to increase than to lessen his speed, and 

 will also prevent her from turning him readily 

 should she encounter any object upon the road. 

 Should the horse, however, continue to dis- 

 obey the commands of his rider, and persist in 

 his efforts to increase his speed, she must then 

 lean well back, and " saw his mouth " with the 

 snaffle-reins, that is, she must pull first one of 

 these reins and then the other in rapid succes- 

 sion ; this may cause him to swerve out of a 

 straight course, but if he has a snaffle-bit sepa- 

 rate from the curb this sawing will generally 

 have the desired effect, and stop him. 



16 



