Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 103 



to avoid the autliority of tlie bridle, and escapes in any 

 direction he can. 



The rider, in this case, must decompose the trouble. 

 Stop his horse, calm him, replace the head and neck nor- 

 mally, and bring him back, holding him closely and until the 

 last moment between his active legs and stretched reins. 



(c) The horse runs out close to the obstacle. Two 

 cases may come up: Where the horse runs out with one 

 shoulder forward; where he runs out with the haunches 

 preceding the shoulders. 



In the first place the shoulder which is in front must 

 be restrained either by an action of the opening rein, if the 

 horse shows a mere attempt to swerve, or by an energetic 

 intervention of the bearing rein if he roughly forces his 

 shoulders out of the straight line; one must push him vig- 

 orously at the same time with both legs. 



In the second case, if he escapes by the haunches lead- 

 ing, to the left for example, it is by lateral aids in placing 

 him in the left shoulder-in (left bearing rein of opposition, 

 left leg), that the haunches may be held in the proper 

 direction. The horse's head is drawn, it is true, in the 

 direction in which he wished to escape; but under the ac- 

 tion of the left rein and leg, the whole mass — and it is that 

 which counts — is thrown toward the right. He is straight- 

 ened at the last moment, and the impulsion provoked by 

 the rein of the shoulder-in, joined to the energetic action 

 of the legs, sends the horse boldly to the jump. 



All the defenses which have just been analyzed are 

 preceded, at some point or other, by a quick abandonment 

 on the part of the horse of the rider's hand. He profits by 

 this moment of liberty to assume the attitude in which he 

 desires to resist. The rider, in approaching the obstacle, 

 should carefully guard the impulsion with his seat and 

 legs, and keep his reins stretched in order not to lose con- 

 tact with the mouth. That is called "Riding close to his 

 horse". 



