HORSEMANSHIP. 69 



with horses which have not heen well trained, 

 it is necessary that a man on foot give him 

 some small touches with the whip on the 

 knees and ancles ; at the same time the rider 

 should draw the bridle to him, but if he does 

 not obey, you must caress him at each sign 

 of obedience that you obtain from him. 



When a horse falls back, he has always 

 one hind leg under the belly, he pushes the 

 croup behind, and he is at each movement 

 sometimes on one hip, sometimes on the 

 other, but he cannot well execute this action, 

 and it ought not to be required of him, until he 

 . begins to become supple and to obey the stop, 

 because you are better able to draw his 

 shoulders to you when they are free and sup- 

 ple, than when they are stiff and benumbed. 

 This lesson, always occasioning an effort more 

 or less painful to the reins and houghs, should 

 be used moderately at the beginning, partic- 

 ularly with horses that have these parts 

 naturally weak. It becomes, for the same 

 reason, a chastisement for horses that do not 

 well obey the stop, but on the other side it is 

 a good way to put a horse on his hips, to 

 make him adjust his back feet, to steady the 

 head, and to render him light in hand. 



