22 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 



head well bent to the right ; take him into the corner of the school 

 or manege ; then, keeping him up to his work rather by the aid of 

 the spur and whip than by the leg, strike him lightly off to the right. 

 A sharp touch of the spur behind the girth, and a light firm feeling 

 of both reins, the inward the strongest, will cause him to strike off 

 true. Where no riding house or walled manege is available, the 

 above may be successfully carried out in a small paddock, having 

 tolerably high fences and corners nearly square. 



Manner in riding the horse at this stage of his breaking is of vital 

 importance. The hands, while kept well back, should be light and 

 lively ; the whip and spur (never to be unnecessarily applied) should 

 be used so as to let the horse know that they are always ready if he 

 hangs back from his work ; and the rider, sitting easily and flexibly 

 in the saddle, should ride with spirit and vivacity, making much of 

 the horse frome time to time as he answers with alacrity to the light 

 and lively aids applied. A dull rider makes a dull horse, and vice 

 versa. Gradually, a well bred, good tempered animal will learn to 

 answer smartly to the slightest indication of the rider's will, and 

 while giving a good appai to the hand, will convey a most enjoyable 

 feeling from his well-balanced elastic movement, without the neces- 

 sity of strong or rough aids. In a very brief tune the long whip 

 can be dispensed with, and all incHnation to throw the haunches 

 in will cease. The animal has then acquired the aplomb necessary 

 to fit him for the lady equestrian. He should then be taught by 

 gradually inductive lessons to walk quietly up to his fences and 

 jmnp freely, his haunches well under him ; and subsequently to 

 execute his leap from a steady, collected canter, without rush or 

 hurry. 



During the latter part of each lesson he should be ridden with a 

 skirt or rug on. 



He should then be accustomed to all kinds of sights and sounds, 

 from the rattle of a wheelbarrow to the pattering file firing at a 

 review, and the loud report of a great gun ; and especially he should 

 be habituated to having all sorts of colours about him. 



I well remember seeing a fine horse, that had been some time in 

 the breaker's hand, and was perfect in his mouth and paces, put a 



