SEAT, LEGS AND SPURS 



hide from myself the fact that the result was 

 not always the same with my pupils, many of 

 whom made their horses restive. It therefore 

 became necessary to avoid this inconvenience, 

 and I tried whether in treating the flanks with 

 that gentleness which proved so successful with 

 the mouth, I could not attain the same result. 

 I accordingly tried spurs with round smooth- 

 edged rowels, and obtained such excellent 

 results that I definitely adopted them." 



Most school riders, however, do not use the 

 sharp spur as an aid, but merely to stimulate a 

 horse and enforce obedience to the leg ; but 

 unless a rider has confidence in his ability to 

 keep the lower part of his legs perfectly still, he 

 should not wear sharp spurs, unless they are 

 very short in the neck. Out hunting long- 

 necked sharp spurs are objectionable, as in the 

 case of a fall they are certain to tear the horse's 

 sides. Many do not like dummy spurs when 

 dealing even with an excitable horse, as they 

 merely irritate him, whereas sharp spurs, when 

 properly used, fix his attention and calm him if 

 he has been trained not to kick on feeling them. 

 When an untrained horse feels the spurs he 

 brings his hind legs under him and then kicks ; 

 it is for the trainer to teach him to be content 

 with the first action only. 



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