104 



time, and by degress I exact obedience from 

 them collectively. 



14. — Explain how this is done ? 



I keep the horse at a walk on the straight 

 line, his head reined in, and approaching 

 the spur close to the sides, touch him 

 lightly at first. This gives the horse a 

 forward impulse, which I quietly control 

 by keeping my hand steady, while the 

 horse's hind legs, which he brought under 

 him to spring forward, are suddenly kept 

 there by the opposition of my hand. I 

 then make much of him and caress him, 

 ease my hand, letting him continue to walk 

 on quietly, till by repeating this lesson, at 

 the slightest pressure of my legs, he brings 

 his haunches under him, and arches his 

 neck and is ready to spring forward, to rein 

 back, or turn to either hand. 



15. — ^But suppose when you stick the spurs 



into him, he throws up his head, and 



dashes off with you ? 



This could not happen to me because 1 



should never communicate an impulse with 



the leg, which I could not control with my 



hand. I begin by touching his sides so 



lightly, and taking it so coolly, neither 



