Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 117 



With a horse who no longer obeys the simultaneous action 

 of both legs, it is necessary to go back to the leg lesson 

 given with the longe and driving whip. The rigid reins 

 might also be employed in this case. 



Horses that rear. — This defense has its beginning in halt- 

 ing and getting behind the bit. The first thing to do is, 

 therefore, to prevent his getting behind the bit by attacks 

 on the straight line, attacks which produce movement for- 

 ward and throw weight on the forehand. If the horse re- 

 sists moving forward he must be turned in place to decom- 

 pose the forces which are necessary for him to rear. In 

 swinging his haunches to the side all parts of the horse are 

 decontracted and he is prevented from throwing his weight 

 on the haunches. The use of the rearing reins will help in 

 combating this defense. 



Ho,rses that kick.— It a horse has the habit of kicking, 

 the snaflae must be used to prevent his lowering the head 

 and at the same time he should be vigorously pushed with 

 the legs. 



With a horse that kicks it is an error to always hold 

 his head high, for it often happens that this defense is 

 caused by pain in the loins and hocks, and by raising the 

 heads of these horses one would only increase their irrita- 

 bility and provoke their defenses. 



The horse that kicks at the boot should be put back on 

 the lesson of the single leg, with the longe and riding whip. 

 Every time that he tries this defense his rider should im- 

 mediately riposte with a vigorous blow from the spur. 



Horses that fight the hand.— The causes which lead to 

 this fault are numerous. They pertain generally to super - 

 sensitiveness of the bar, a badly chosen bit, or a too severe 

 hand. The methods indicated in training for the educa- 

 tion of the horse's mouth permit these to be remedied. 

 Seek a suitable bitting, and if necessary discard the curb 

 chain. The standing martingale may be advantageously 

 used in this case ; likewise work on the longe with the reins 

 fastened to a surcingle. 



Horses that lower the head against the chest. — A horse may 

 do this through weakness or lack of training. It is the case 

 with many colts. It then suflaces to give him confidence 

 in the hand by the forward movement and extensions of 

 the neck. If this position becomes a defense, use the snaf- 

 fle reins to raise the head, if necessary by a quick sharp 



