THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 35 



under him, it throws too much weight on the haunches, 

 and this is very likely to make him refuse to rein back, 

 for if he should be weak in the loins, or hocks, it will be a 

 matter of great difficulty for him to do so. With these 

 points, the rider should make himself acquainted, and not 

 require too much at one time ; for if he obtains but one 

 step to the rear to-day, he may look for more to-morrow ; 

 always taking care to make much of the horse for every 

 act of compliance, as he must bear in mind, that it is 

 easier for him to advance ten paces, than to rein back one. 

 In going forward, the reins guide the horse, and the 

 legs urge him on; but in reining back, the legs guide him 

 and the bit forces him back. To effect this, the feeling of 

 both hands must be light and equal, which will raise the 

 horse's forehand, the legs being applied to his sides, will 

 press his haunches under him, and oblige him to step up 

 to the bridle, but being retained by the hands, he will not 

 be able to place his foot forward, so that he must either 

 hold it in the air, or place it backwards ; and after every 

 step to the rear, the hand should be eased. In this lesson, 

 much attention must be paid to the lightness and evenness 

 of the hands and legs ; for the object of it is to lighten the 

 horse's forehand, bringing the weight more upon the 

 haunches, to enable him to work the bending lessons with 

 greater ease to himself, and also to prepare him for the 

 canter. 



Lesson VI, 



The horse by this time ought to understand and answer 

 the aids for walking, bending, reining back, and turning to 

 both hands ; therefore he must now commence the bending 

 lesson, or shoulder-in. Now, as few of my readers may 

 have a riding-house to work in, they will have to find a 

 substitute for one ; any enclosed square space will answer 



