54 NEW METHOD OF HORSEMAXSHIP, 



order to destroy their intensity, and thereby give to the 

 muscles that raise the neck, their antagonists, the pre- 

 dominance which will make the neck rest in a graceful 

 and useful position. This first accomplished, the horse 

 will be accustomed to go forward freely at the pressure 

 of the legs, and to respond, without abruptness or 

 excitement, to the touch of the spurs [attaques) ; the 

 object of these last is to bring the hind legs near the 

 centre, and to lower the croup. The rider will then 

 endeavor to raise the horse's head by the aid of the curb 

 reins ; in this case, the hand will be held some distance 

 above the saddle, and far from the body ;* the force it 

 transmits to the horse ought to be continued until he 

 yields by elevating his head. As these sorts of horses 

 have generally little action, we must take care to avoid 

 letting the hand produce an efiect from the front to the 

 rear, in which case it would take away from the impulse 

 necessary for movement. The pace commencing with 

 the walk, must be kept up at the same rate, while the 

 hand is producing an elevating efiect upon the neck. 

 This precept is applicable to all the changes of position 

 that the hand makes in the head and neck ; but is partic- 

 ularly essential in the case of a horse disposed to depress 

 his neck. 



It should be remembered that the horse has two ways 

 of responding to the pressure of the bit ; by one, he 

 yields but withdraws himself at the same time by 

 shrinking and coming back to his former position ; this 

 kind of yielding is only injurious to his education, for if 

 the hand is held too forcibly, if he does not wait till the 



* This position of the hand at a distance from the saddle and the body will 

 be criticised ; but let the rider be reassured, eight or ten lessons will suffice 

 to make the horse change the position of his head, and allow the hand to 

 resume its normal position. 



