34 THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 



by the pressure of the legs, to bring his weight more on 

 his haunches, so that he can lift his foot up by bending 

 the knee, and extend it well to the front. 



Some riders make a great mistake in giving the horse a 

 longer rein to increase his pace, imagining they will suc- 

 ceed by so doing ; thus, as it were, letting the horse's head 

 down upon his fore legs, and impeding his speed instead of 

 increasing it : but if you wish a horse to step well out, 

 you must first raise his forehand, and then he has every 

 chance to spring from his haunches, and is enabled to stop, 

 turn, or advance, with greater precision and ease to himself. 



The halt is a material part of the lesson, and may be re- 

 peated with great advantage. If performed with judgment, 

 it assists the rider in bringing the horse's haunches under 

 him, and raising him in front. When about to halt, the 

 rider should first somewhat animate the horse, and then 

 his mouth must be felt, and the legs firmly, but steadily, 

 applied to stay him, upon which the hand must be eased. 

 Also, in changing from the trot to the walk, from the 

 canter to the trot or walk, the horse should be well 

 pressed up to the hand, keeping in mind, that all changes 

 of pace, should be made with his haunches well under 

 him, the rider's hand to be firm but very light, that the 

 horse may be going freely and well up to the bit at the 

 time the change is made. 



Lesson V. 



As I have previously directed, that the horse should be 

 reined back in his former lessons before dismissing him, 

 the rider may now try and rein him back while mounted. 

 In this lesson, at the commencement, he must not raise the 

 horse's head too high, more particularly, if the ground is 

 soft ; for, by raising him too much in front at first, espe- 

 cially if he is not well collected, and his haunches well 



