BACKING. 123 



tion which alone can smooth all obstacles. 

 Indeed, if the horse executes, it is the 

 rider who makes him do so; upon him then 

 rests the responsibility of every false move- 

 ment. 



It will suffice to exercise the horse for 

 eight days (for five minutes each lesson) 

 in backing, to make him execute it with 

 facility. The rider will content himself the 

 first few times with one or two steps to the 

 rear, followed by the combined effect of the 

 legs and hand, increasing in proportion to 

 the progress he makes, until he finds no 

 more difficulty in a backward than in a for- 

 ward movement. 



What an immense step we will then 

 have made in the education of our pupil! 

 At the start, the defective formation of the 

 animal, his natural contractions, the resist- 

 ances we encountered everywhere, seemed 

 as if they might defy our efforts, for ever. 



