30 THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 



Lesson III. 



Supposing the horse can walk well to his front with his head 

 up, and is beginning to yield to the rider's hand, by playing 

 with and champing the bit ; the next demand should be to 

 bend him to the right and left. This at first should be done 

 by halting him, and placing him properly on all four feet, 

 making him stand well up to the bit. In bending the horse, 

 great gentleness should be used, he should never be pulled 

 round by force, nor kept bent too long at one time, but the 

 rider should, with a light and playful hand, engage his at- 

 tention towards him, and when he yields to the right rein, 

 pat him and unbend him: then try the same to the left. 

 When he has yielded a few times to each hand, place him 

 square, letting him see you are pleased with him ; then 

 walk him well out again, and by thus halting and bending, 

 placing him square, and moving him on, during his early 

 lessons, the instructor will be greatly assisted in preparing 

 him for the lesson of " Shoulder-in." 



When he answers these demands freely, he must be taught to 

 turn to the right and left ; and, in order not to confuse the 

 reader, I will confine myself to explaining the aids for work- 

 ing to the right only — wishing him to bear in mind that the 

 reverse aids are required in working to the left. I will ex- 

 plain the aids that are required in turning to the right. 

 The rider must try to keep the horse up to that free action 

 in the turn, that he had when walking straight to his front ; 

 to obtain which, a light feeling of both hands is required to 

 raise his forehand, and both legs must be applied to keep 

 his haunches under him, but the inward or right rein, and 

 the outward or left leg, the stronger. If we wish the horse 

 to turn to the right, the right rein must be felt the stronger, 

 to direct him where to go, with a lighter feeling of the left, 

 to balance and assist the right, so that the snaffle may have 

 almost an equal pressure on both sides of the horse's mouth : 



