156 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



be but a useless ebbing and flowing of forces. 

 This succession of oppositions, well combined, 

 will bring together a great quantity of forces 

 in the centre of the horse's bodv, and the 

 more these are increased, the more the ani- 

 mal will lose his instinctive energy. When 

 the pressure of the legs becomes insufficient 

 to collect the forces entirely, more energetic 

 means must be employed, viz. : touches of 

 the spur. 



The spurring ought not to be done vio- 

 lently, and with much movement of the 

 legs, but with delicacy and management. 

 The rider ought to close his legs so gradually 

 that, before coming in actual contact with 

 the horse's flanks, the spur will not be more 

 than a hair's breadth from them, if possible. 

 The hand should ever be an echo to the 

 light touches with which we commence ; and 

 it should be firmly held, so as to present an 

 opposition equal to the force communicated 



