58 THE BAEB AND THE BEIDLE. 



feeling the curb reins while pressed by the leg, the horse will take a 

 step back. The reins should be yielded the instant he does so. Two 

 or three steps back are sufficient, when the word "Forward" should 

 be given, preceded by the caution to close the fingers firmly on the 

 reins, and, with whip and leg, keep the horse well up to his work. 

 Feeling this amount of constraint laid upon him, the horse will be 

 inclined at any moment to canter. But here the tact of the master 

 should be exhibited in instructing his pupil to release the horse from 

 his fore-shortened position, by allowing about six inches of rein (or 

 more, if necessary), to pass through her left hand as she presses the 

 horse forward into a free trot (about eight miles an hour). All her 

 firmness of seat will be necessary now, because any irregular action 

 on her part will cause her hand to become heavy, and make the 

 horse canter. The great thing is, not to continue trotting on the 

 curb-rein alone too long. Short lessons often repeated, and intervals 

 in which to correct everything are best for pupil and instructor. 



AYhen the lady can accomplish trotting out for twenty minutes: 

 without allowing her horse to break, she should then be instructed 

 to collect him to a slower pace, bringing him more upon his haunches, 

 and with his forehand more up. This requires the nicest tact and 

 discrimination on the part of the rider, perfect steadiness in the 

 saddle, and firm pressure of the left leg ; while the reins should be 

 drawn through the left hand with as much care as though the lady 

 feared to break them. The shortened pace should be smart and 

 active, and the horse so collected as to be ready to turn to the right, 

 or left, or about, or make the inclines at any moment. All these 

 exercises should then be practised in the same order as when the 

 pupil rode, assisted by or on the snaffle only. 



After the lady has performed these to the satisfaction of the 

 master, she should bring her horse to the walk and be instructed to 

 carry the end of the curb reins, which she has held hitherto in her 

 right hand, through the full of the left hand, and place both reins 

 (the off-side one uppermost) over the middle joint of the fore finger, 

 and close the thumb firmly on them. The end of the reins should 

 be dropped to the off-side of the horse, and hang down outside the 

 off-side crutch ; the whip (with the point doivnwards) kept quiet. 



