ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



The position of the hands regulates the 

 height at which the horse carries his head, 

 which can be trained to follow the hand up or 

 down, in the following way : — Whilst walking 

 raise the hands and " take a feel " on the 

 bradoon reins ; then if the horse does not 

 respond, draw the bradoon quietly from side 

 to side through the mouth, and when the head 

 begins to rise, close the legs, or touch with the 

 spurs close behind the girths, so as to bring it 

 well up, and when he has carried it in this 

 position for a short time, reward him by letting 

 the reins gently run through the fingers — the 

 horse should not be allowed to snatch them 

 through — so that he can lower his head and 

 stretch his neck, the touch of the legs being also 

 removed. Baucher writes : "I have just said 

 that to reward a horse one should ease the 

 hands, but I do not mean that the reins should 

 be suddenly and completely slackened. One 

 should imperceptibly diminish the tension on 

 the reins, so as to be always ready to check 

 opportunely the undue haste with which the 

 horse would naturally stretch out his neck. 

 He should be taught to draw the reins through 

 the fingers very gently." The rider should 

 also be careful when taking up the reins again 

 to be equally gentle and gradual in his action ; 



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