142 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



CHAPTER XIII. —BA CKING. 



Too much attention can hardly be paid in teach- 

 inof the horse to back. A score of horses can be 

 found that will perfectly perform all the more strik- 

 ing movements, for one that will go back lightly 

 and smoothly. To begin teaching the horse to back 

 before it has been well suppled and disciplined is to 

 invite failure, and too generally the rider finds it 

 easier to let the horse fall into the habit of going 

 to the rear against the spurs than to demand the 

 movement according to good principles. 



The early lessons in backing should be given on 

 foot. The rider will stand on the left side of the 

 horse near the shoulder, taking the snaffle reins in 

 his left hand, held under the chin of the horse, and 

 holding the whip in his right hand. Between a few 

 light taps of the whip upon the rump, and a light 

 restraint upon the snaffle reins, the horse will be 

 united. The whip taps will then be resumed, and 

 the tension upon the reins reduced, until there 

 is a forward impulse from the croup ; when a hind- 

 leg is raised to be put forward the hand should be 



