276 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



to give a free action to his shoulders, and to teach 

 him to obey the pressure of the leg." 



In passaging to the right the right rein is 

 used to bend and lead the horse and the left rein 

 to balance him. The right leg keeps him up to 

 his bridle and the left leg makes him cross 

 his legs. A difference between passaging and 

 shoulder in is that in the former the outward 

 leg crosses the inward one and in the latter the 

 inward leg crosses the outward one. There is 

 no more important lesson learnt in the school 

 than reining back, as it enables a horse that is low 

 in the forehand to collect himself better than 

 any other means. It must be taught to the horse 

 on foot at first. Standing in front of him and 

 taking up a rein in each hand the trainer should 

 notice which foot the horse has in advance. He 

 should then press gradually on the rein on that 

 side till the horse takes one step in a backward 

 direction. When he has done that he should be 

 rewarded and made much of. Then the same 

 process should be gone through on the other side. 

 At first the horse's head should be kept rather 

 low, as he backs easier with it in this position, 

 but it may be gradually raised as he gets more 

 power in his quarters. The exercise should not 

 be too prolonged at first and great care should be 

 taken that the horse does not run back, but 

 steps back steadily as he receives the signal. 

 To rein back when mounted the reins should be 

 felt lightly, and both legs should be pressed to 

 the horse's sides in order to raise his forehand. 



