EMPLOYMENT OF AN ASSISTANT. 115 



from the rear forwards. It is by the aid of 

 the latter that the hand places and fixes 

 the fore legs. 



To accelerate these results, at first, a se- 

 cond person may be employed, who will 

 place himself at the height of the horse's 

 head, holding the curb-reins in the right 

 hand, and on the side opposite to which we 

 wish the croup to go. He will lay hold of 

 the reins at six inches from the branches of 

 the bit, so af5 to be in a good position to com- 

 bat the instinctive resistances of the animal. 

 The one in the saddle will content himself 

 with holding lightly the snaffle-reins, acting 

 with his legs as I have already shown. The 

 second person is only useful when we have 

 to deal with a horse of an intractable dis- 

 position, or to aid the inexperience of the 

 man in the saddle ; but, as much should be 

 done without assistance as possible, in order 

 that the practitioner may judge by himself 



