THE PRIMER. 25 



legs. If the horse is constrained in its movements, 

 or comes to a halt, he is probably bearing too 

 heavily upon his reins ; if the horse goes unsteadily, 

 or carries its head too low, he must close his legs 

 against the horse's sides, and shorten his reins. 

 Whenever there is an increased tension upon the 

 reins the horse must be prepared for it by the rider's 

 legs, so that the hand will not act more strongly than 

 is desirable : and the pressure of the rider's legs 

 against the sides of the horse will be released when- 

 ever there is no necessity for stimulating the im- 

 pulses from the hind-quarters. That is, if the 

 horse be moving freely and smoothly, there is no 

 necessity for the rider's legs to demand greater 

 impulses ; but if the animal shows an inclination to 

 move sluggishly or to stop, the rider's legs must be 

 ready to keep up the movement ; and when the rider 

 wishes to come to a halt, he must first close his legs 

 against the sides of the horse, and then draw the 

 reins, first releasing the tension upon the reins 

 when the horse has come to a halt, and then the 

 pressure of his legs, or the horse may begin to back 

 after it comes to a stop. To resume the walk, the 

 legs will be closed against the sides of the horse, the 

 impulses from the croup will be met by the hand, 

 and the latter will then give the animal liberty to 

 proceed at a walk, when the legs may be withdrawn 



D 



