174 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



tracting the fingers, but being careful to keep 

 the reins in place between the thumb and index 

 linger of each hand ; she will thus gradually 

 oblisre him to raise his neck w^itli his chin drawn 

 in, so that control over his mouth may be re- 

 gained. 



Should he resist this method, the reins must 

 be momentarily slackened, and then a decided 

 jerk or pull be given them in an upward di- 

 rection ; this ^vill cause a sharp tw^inge in his 

 mouth, and make him raise his head. In these 

 manoeuvres the curb-bit should be used, and as 

 the animal raises his head the rider should 

 gently relax the reins, and also be on her guard 

 lest he rear. In some instances a decided " saw^- 

 ing " of his mouth with the snaffle — that is, 

 sharply pulling upon one rein and then upon 

 the other, arid in rather quick succession — will 

 cause him to raise his head and neck. 



When a horse is obedient, all changes in the 

 degree of pressure upon his mouth should be 

 made gradually, because, if a sudden transition 

 be made from a firm hand to a relaxed one, he 

 will be abruptly deprived of the support upon 

 which he has been depending and may be 

 thrown forward on his shoulders. Again, to 

 pass precipitately from a slack rein to a tight 

 one will give a violent shock to his mouth, 



