THE PRIMER. 2>7 



horse will be increased without increasing the rate 

 of speed. When the crest is arched, the muscles of 

 the neck swell and play, the mouth is pliant, and the 

 horse grows under the rider; while the diagonally 

 disposed legs work in unison in even and balanced 

 strides, the equilibrium is as perfect as is consistent 

 with motion. This ' union ' should be observed 

 more or less in changing direction in the trot, as 

 the horse is not apt to trip or make mistakes in 

 turning when so collected, and the practice of com- 

 ing to ' the union ' from ' in hand,' and returning 

 to the lesser state of collection, is excellent discipline 

 for the horse and the rider. 



In uniting the horse, the rider should take care 

 that the head is kept sufficiently high to secure 

 the balance between the forehand and the croup, 

 and this may require some energetic action of the 

 snaffle reins. He must also guard against the horse 

 carrying the nose too far towards the chest; the 

 horse's face should be nearly vertical to the plane 

 of movement, but the nose should never fall inside 

 of a perpendicular line from the poll to the ground, 

 and with some short-necked horses it will be better 

 to let the nose be a little beyond the perpendicular 

 line. There should not be a constant or a severe 

 tension upon the curb reins ; but by vibratory 

 motions the mouth should be kept fresh and the 



