4 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



links are pressed upon each other, a touch in any 

 part affects the whole. 



The rider's hand can restrain, elevate, or depress 

 the forehand. The rider's heels can bring the 

 hind-quarters up to the point where they have 

 the greatest impulsive power, or beyond it so 

 that the croup will be depressed. It is therefore 

 in the power of the rider to so arrange the 

 forces of the extremities that they shall be 

 balanced. If perfect equilibrium be established 

 between the forces of the extremities, there will 

 be no motion, but the rider will permit the forces 

 of the croup or of the forehand to have just such 

 preponderance as the direction and rate of speed 

 demands. For instance, if the horse be united 

 at a halt, and it be desired to proceed slowly, the 

 heels would demand impulse from the croup 

 while the hand released the forehand sufficiently 

 to let the forces of the hind-quarters send the 

 mass forward in the walk. Or, if the rider wished 

 to make the horse go back, the forces of the fore- 

 hand would be carried to the rear, while the 

 rider's heels permitted the hind-quarters to give 

 way just so far as would be required for the 

 desired motion. It will be understood that to 

 demand this balance of the forces of which I 

 speak the forces must be kept level as well as 



