TRAINING A HORSE 



The rider starts at the walk, the reins being 

 long but not loose, and closing first the fingers 

 firmly, say, on the right rein of the bradoon or 

 bit, he presses the horse gently forwards with 

 the legs, which should also keep him on a 

 straight path, and waits till he yields his jaw 

 and brings his nose to the right, the lateral 

 bend of the neck being from just behind the 

 ears, the rest of the neck remaining straight 

 and firm, and the quarters in a line with the 

 shoulders. The hand and legs should then be 

 immediately eased, and the horse patted. The 

 same should then be done with the left rein, 

 and then both right and left rein, of each bit 

 in turn, together. This direct flexion should 

 always be obtained before easing the hands 

 after stopping the horse. Baucher's direct and 

 lateral flexions were made at the withers, but, as 

 Mr. Fillis explains, this soon teaches the horse 

 to avoid control by getting behind the hand. 

 The neck should remain high and firm, the 

 flexion being made by the horse yielding the 

 jaw, and making the bend from the poll alone ; 

 if he lowers his neck, it should be at once 

 pressed up again by the legs and spurs ; it 

 should not, however, be carried too high, but 

 just so high that the rider when sitting erect 

 and looking straight in front can see the 



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