JIOKSEMANSHIP. 31 



upon the seat ; after having cleaned them if 

 they are dirty, you will raise the saddle softly, 

 drawing it towards yourself, in order to take 

 it away ; you will carry it away in the same 

 manner that you brought it ; you will then 

 occupy yourself in washing the legs of the 

 horse, with rubbing him with a wisp, after 

 which you will put his covering on him, and 

 conduct him to the stable. 



Of Helps and Chastisements, 



Helps are different useful signals, to warn 

 a horse of the movements he must execute ; 

 chastisements are the means employed to 

 correct him when he commits a fault. There 

 are four principal sorts of helps : different 

 movements of the hand ; of the bridle ; the 

 riding whip ; appeal to the tongue ; various 

 manoeuvres of the thighs and legs of the 

 rider. 



The movements of the bridle or left hand 

 are the means of warning most frequently 

 employed, and the action which the bridle 

 produces in the mouth of the horse, is the 

 effect of the different movements of the hand. 

 A good hand should be light, soft, and firm, 



