THE PRIMER. 7 



are the general principles of Horsemanship ; and 

 without a knowledge of them the rider must not 

 expect to manage his horse with anything re- 

 sembling precision and certainty. 



Note. — When, in any of these pages, the spur is mentioned 

 it must be understood to mean such a form of the leg 

 aid as the circumstances require, — the sharp rowel, the 

 side of the heel, or the pressure of the rider's calf — 

 depending upon the vivacity and obedience of the 

 horse and the vigour of movement to be demanded. 

 In a well-trained horse the rider rarely requires to 

 give a stronger indication than the pressure of the 

 lower part of the leg, and often nothing more than 

 the slight shifting of his weight in connection with 

 a hint from the hand. But as it would be impossible 

 to lay down rules for the form of the aid under all 

 circumstances, the word 'spur' is usually employed 

 to indicate when the proper form of that aid should 

 be applied. 



