H0RSE3IA]\-SHir. 39 



him with the riding whip upon the belly and 

 buttocks, and to prevent him from kicking up 

 his hind feet, you strike him on the shoulder. 



The spur is composed of three principal 

 pieces ; the body or the branches, the neck 

 and the rowel : the neck should be a little 

 long, in order that the rider may not be obliged 

 to press the heel too much to reach the belly 

 of his horse, and the rowel ought to have five 

 or six very sharp points. 



Spurs can be used with great success to 

 render a horse sensible and acquainted with 

 the helps : they should be used with discern- 

 ment : you must use them vigorously when 

 there is occasion, but never without necessity. 

 To use the spur properly, you must draw the 

 calf of the legs, and rest the rowel strongly 

 against the belly, about four breadths of the 

 finger behind the girths ; for if you attack 

 the flanks, this part being much too tender, 

 the horse would kick and stop short, instead 

 of advancing. Riders who apply the spurs 

 with a single blow, astonish and surprise the 

 horse, who does not then answer as well, as 

 when he anticipates it by the sensible ap- 

 proach of the calf of the leg. The delicate 

 pricking of the spur, sometimes becomes a 



