THE PRIMER. 29 



that his horse is rendered furious by the unac- 

 customed or dreaded rowel, whereas if the horse 

 has been taught to look upon the spur as a discip- 

 linary instrument that is never used in anger, a 

 touch from it will, if it does not bring him to 

 obedience, at least work no great harm. Of late 

 years I have used sharp rowels upon my spurs only 

 to teach my horses to bear their attacks quietly, 

 as a precautionary measure for the benefit of any 

 persons who should afterwards ride them ; and after 

 these lessons have been inculcated I have pfiven 

 the aid by applying the side of the heel, or by the 

 pressure of the calf of the leg, nor have I ever found 

 it necessary to use a sharper reminder. I do not 

 think that I can be accused of cruelty in this, for a 

 scratch given by one who knows how to use the 

 spur is a very slight thing — nothing to compare with 

 the blows that ' roucrh riders ' often eive with the 

 cutting whip ; and it must be remembered that I 

 almost, if not quite, alone have deprecated the use 

 of whip and spur in punishment. 



I think that while the rider uses the snaffle bit he 

 should confine himself to the walk and to the trot. 

 In these paces he can gain a secure seat, he can 

 learn how to use his hands and legs, and he can 

 learn much of how to direct and control his horse. 

 He can learn how to elevate or to depress the head 



