284 



The Book of the Horse. 



says, " There are three sorts of ' indications,' viz., retaining, urging, and guiding." The hands 

 retain or restrain and guide, the legs guide and urge. If a horse is mounted, and allowed to 

 stand still for any considerable time, he will most likely sprawl and extend himself in an 

 attitude which is not only ugly, but which requires a decided change of position before he 

 can either walk, trot, or canter in the form he should. If a horse is ridden with a loose rein 

 and careless legs, he can turn round or to one side before he can be stopped ; and if he is 

 very much tired is very likely to overbalance himself and fall. All men who perform great 

 feats in walking and running have a balanced pace. Although perfectly-trained horses of 

 admirable symmetry do stand and go alone, a good horseman is always in a position to 

 instantaneously control his horse. 



DOUBLE REINS IN TOTH HANDS. 



For this reason — although in the hunting-field you often gallop off the moment you are 

 mounted — after dismounting at a locked gate or after a fall, without being settled in your seat 

 and with the reins held anyhow, because you are in a hurry and have confidence in yourself 

 and your horse, that is the exception to a sound rule of horsemanship — viz., that a horse 

 should be collected before he is asked to move at any pace, that he should be slightly retained 

 by the bridle, and slightly pressed by the legs. This makes, or should make him, if he knows 

 his business, stand square, ready to lead off with either leg as desired, and to walk, trot, or 

 canter with mechanical precision. The grooms' phrase of " pulled together," for " collected," 

 is very expressive. 



Once in motion the legs of a good horseman on a well-trained horse, however high- 

 spirited, will imperceptibly guide and regulate his paces almost as much as the reins, when 

 after a longer or shorter acquaintance, rider and horseman have learned to understand and 

 trust each other. 



