no MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



apparent to every one, and yet those who follow 

 a system in training horses for the saddle are but 

 few compared with those who undertake to control 

 those nervous animals through force and fear. 



I will first describe the horse * in hand ' in place, 

 as that is the state of collection in which it should 

 habitually be placed before being moved away ; 

 but it may be that the rider cannot bring the 

 standing horse perfectly ' in hand ' until it has had 

 some preparatory discipline in action. For the 

 impulses that are generated in action greatly assist 

 the hand in collecting the forces, and after a few 

 lessons in the walk and in the trot in the curb bit, 

 the rider should find no trouble in bringing the 

 horse ' in hand ' at the halt. 



The horse being in the double-reined bridle, the 

 rider should mount, and with the snaffle reins he 

 should place the head at the proper elevation. He 

 should then close his leo-s a^-ainst the sides of the 

 horse, and draw the curb reins, held at equal 

 lengths, in vibratory motions towards his body. 

 When the horse curves the crest, holds the face 

 about vertical to the ground, supports the head 

 without assistance from the reins, and has a pliant 

 jaw at the touches of the bit, the weight being 

 equally distributed upon the bearers, and the 

 working of the muscle under the rider showing him 



