ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



the outside leg should be ready to compel the 

 horse to move sideways, whilst the inside calf 

 and spur should be kept ready to press him 

 forwards or stop him. The rider's whole 

 weight should be on the inside seat bone and 

 thigh. 



The horse being thoroughly educated up to 

 this point, the rider can teach him to go back- 

 wards, quietly and steadily, by first bending both 

 knee joints, the body being inclined slightly 

 forwards, so as to take the weight off the hind 

 quarters ; and then, when this is answered by a 

 forward impulse, the hands should take hold of 

 the impulse and send it backwards, the left being 

 held steady, whilst the right hand gives short 

 gentle pulls on the right reins or vice versa ; but 

 there should be a forward impulse even when 

 going backwards, and one should always send a 

 horse forwards again for a step or two after 

 backing him. When once a horse learns that 

 by going backwards and getting behind the legs 

 he can render his rider powerless, he is master 

 of the situation and will always have his own 

 way ; and so, as Mr. Fillis says, it should be 

 Forward on, always Forward on. A horse must 

 be keen to go forward even when he is backing 

 in obedience to his rider. There is no pleasure 

 in riding a slug or a jibber, and so one should 



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