30 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



the appui. I prefer, however, to use the English phrase of 

 hearing on the horse's mouth ; since to those who do not 

 understand French, appui will convey no meaning at all, and 

 to those who do understand it, it will convey the false idea of 

 the necessity of supporting the horse. It is impossible to 

 bestow too much pains and attention on the acquirement of 

 this ; it is the index of the horse's actions, temper, and inten- 

 tions ; it forewarns the rider of what he is about to do, and 

 by it he feels whether his horse requires more liberty or more 

 collecting. And it is impossible that in this bearing on the 

 horse's mouth, or in the indications of the hands and legs 

 generally, or in shortening and lengthening the reins, the 

 rider can be too delicate, gradual, smooth, firm, and light. 

 The hands, in the bearing on the horse's mouth, in their indi- 

 cations generally, as well as in shortening and lengthening the 

 reins, should be perfectly free from any approach to a jerk, a 

 loose rein, or uneven feeling of the mouth. The legs should 

 be kept from any action approaching to a kick, except when 



