THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 85 



ported with the outward rein. When she has him in the corner of 

 the school, and bent both in his neck and ribs (which in turning and 

 putting his off fore foot into the angle must be the case, if she 

 applies her whip smartly behind the flap of the saddle, and presses 

 her left foot to his near elbow, keeping his forehand well up at the 

 same time), he can scarcely refuse to strike off with his near leg ; 

 but it must be borne in mind that a lady cannot be expected to 

 execute this movement with any certainty unless the horse has been 

 previously taught by a man to obey the aids the lady applies as 

 above directed. This, however, every breaker who knows his busi- 

 ness can easily do. 



When a fair amount of proficiency is acquired in this lesson, the 

 ■change may be made from what is technically called a " half halt," 

 which means simply that, the horse being thrown more upon 

 his haunches, the aids are applied with great firmness, and 

 the horse compelled to change his leg without being brought com- 

 pletely to the walk. The degree of proficiency, however, should 

 be when the pupil can change her horse with certainty after halting 

 him. 



The pace at which the half passage is done should be very col- 

 lected, and, I repeat, if the rider and horse do it only reasonably 

 well (that is, the latter continuing true and united in his pace, and 

 ■changing freely after being halted), that for some little time it 

 should be considered sufficient, and every allowance made for the 

 fact that the lady, unlike the male rider, cannot give support to her 

 horse with both legs. 



Most likely at first the horse will throw his haunches out a little, 

 -and the rider slightly lose her position. Practice and the close 

 application most ladies give to riding will suffice to correct all this, 

 and in due time the pupil will be able to execute the lesson with 

 smoothness and ease to herself and her horse. She will then be 

 sufficiently advanced to commence cantering on the curb rein alone. 

 This, as regards finish in the rider's hand, is in equitation what tone 

 is in music. Every motion of the little finger, or the slightest turn 

 of the wrist, acts upon the curb when it is unrelieved by the snaffle 

 with so much more power, that the greatest care is necessary to 



