50 NEW METHOD OP HORSEMANSHIP. 



obeys the action of the snaffle, he will yield much more 

 quickly to that of the curb, the effect of which is so 

 much more powerful. The curb, of course, needs more 

 care in the use of it than the snaffle. (Plate XL) 



2. The horse will have completely yielded to the 

 action of the hand, when his head is carried in a position 

 perfectly perpendicular to the ground ; from that time 

 the contraction will cease, which the animal will show, 

 as in every other case, by champing his bit. The rider 

 must be careful not to be deceived by the feints of the 

 horse— feints which consist in yielding one-fourth or one- 

 third of the way, and then hesitating. If, for example, 

 the nose of the horse having to pass over a curve of ten 

 degrees to attain the perpendicular position (Plate XL), 

 should stop at the fourth or sixth and again resist, the 

 hand should follow the movement and then remain firm 

 and immovable, for a concession on its part would 

 encourage resistance and increase the difficulties. When 

 the nose shall descend to No. 10, the perpendicular posi- 

 tion will be complete and the lightness perfect. The 

 rider can then cease the tension of the reins, but so as 

 to keep the head in this position, if it should offer to 

 leave it. If he lets it return at all to its natural situa- 

 tion, it should be to draw it in over again, and to make 

 the animal underitand that the perpendicular position 

 of the head is the only one allowed when under the 

 rider's hand. He should, at the outset, accustom the 

 horse to cease backing at the pressure of the legs, as all 

 backward movements would enable him to avoid the 

 effects of the hand or create new means of resistance. 

 (Plate XXL) 



This is the most important flexion of all ; the others 

 tended principally to pave the way for it. As soon as it 

 is executed with ease and promptness, as soon as a 



