162 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



serious ones when no rational principle gave 

 the means of surmounting them. The ap- 

 plication of my method will enable ordinary 

 horsemen to obtain results that otherwise 

 could be obtained only by the most favored 

 equestrian organizations. 



When the animal becomes accustomed by 

 means of the spur to such oppositions, it will 

 be easy enough to combat with the spur all 

 the resistances that may afterwards manifest 

 themselves. Since the resistances are always 

 caused by moving the croup sideways, or get- 

 ting it too far back, the spur, by immediately 

 bringing the hind legs towards the centre of 

 the body, prevents the support of the hocks, 

 which opposed the proper harmony of forces, 

 and prevented the right distribution of the 

 weight. 



This is the means I always employ to 

 make the horse pass from a swift gallop to a 

 halt, without straining his hocks, or injur- 



