122 HOW THE HORSE LEAENS 



of his body on it, it would be very difficult to 

 succeed in lifting it even witb great strength ^ as 

 the horse is not in a suitable mechanical posture 

 to allow of its being done. He is placed in a sui- 

 table position for raising the foot by leaning one 

 hand against the shoulder or haunch. Thus the 

 weight of the horse's body is directed on to the 

 other side, and the foot that it is desired to raise 

 remains uncharged, and can be raised easily with 

 slight exertion of strength. It is generally said that 

 the horse will not raise his foot, and it is not 

 understood that he has not been placed in a posi- 

 tion suitable for doing so, and this is not the fault 

 of the horse but that of the man wha has not 

 studied hoAV the foot should be raised. 



The horse who does not know how to traverse 

 should not be required to suddenly traverse by dint 

 of punishments with hand, spurs or whip. He 

 should be prepared for it by bending him gradu- 

 ally, giving him time to grow accustomed to this 

 bent posture and little by little making him tra- 

 verse for a few steps until he grows accustomed to 

 it and it no longer inconveniences him. 



