48 HORSEMANSHIP. 



horse descends, the body is thrown well backwards, the 

 left hand retains a strong bearing uj^on tlic month to 

 support the horse, the legs clasp the body with tenacity, 

 and the right hand may be thrown back, if requi- 

 site, to aid the equilibrium. The moment the horse 

 lands upon the opposite side of the fence or object, he is 

 well collected together, by the bearing of the hand and 

 the pressure of both legs, to prevent him from stumbling 

 or falling, and to prepare him to move off at speed if 

 required. 



REARING, KICKING, AND SHYING. 



When the horse rears, the rider must cease to bear 

 upon the mouth, and lean his body well forward 

 towards the neck. If the horse rears nearly perpendi- 

 cular, the rider must put his arms well forward, so as 

 nearly to clasp the neck, still refraining from bearing 

 upon the mouth ; or, he may pass his right hand along 

 the bit-rein near to the mouth, and bearing strongly to 

 the right, throw the horse off his balance. If the rider 

 be sensible that the horse is about to fall backwards, ho 

 must quit his hold of both the reins and the stirrups, 

 and throw himself from the horse. 



