228 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



wards by the whip; this state of affairs is, however, 

 only arrived at if the horse circles unwillingly and 

 the whip is used from the center of the circle. The 

 young horse should never be circled at a trot until 

 he moves pleasantly at a walk, nor should the canter 

 be attempted before he goes well on both hands at a 

 trot ; he will learn the game quickly enough. 



Crosstrees are another very old invention, and 

 are designed for the purpose of securing bearing- 

 reins and side reins at various heights in dismounted 

 work. Old-fashioned country trainers, amongst 

 others, are in the habit of leading colts about with 

 bearing-reins attached to this appliance ; but as there 

 is no give and take in the reins the animal eventually 

 learns to lean on the bit, and his mouth is liable to 

 be spoiled before he is backed. Rubber reins have 

 been tried to minimize this evil, but authorities are 

 not in agreement as to their efficacy. Cesaresco and 

 Hayes are amongst those who contend that rubber 

 reins have a diametrically opposite action to that of 

 good hands. Let us leave it at this : that a bearing- 

 rein, however made or fixed, can in no way imitate 

 the salutary " feeling '' of a good pair of hands ; 

 and let us again repeat, with reference to bearing- 



