84 BREAKING AND TRAINING 



Ans. — Because the support (the hind leg) must be 

 displaced before the weight is thrown on it. If the 

 reins are felt first the whole weight of the horse is 

 thrown on his hand legs, and how can he lift them and 

 step back ? If he succeeds in hfting one leg, it is with 

 a great effort, and he will fall back on it rather than 

 step back, thus being liable to injure his hocks, if 

 forced to repeat it often. Whereas by pressure of both 

 legs, I make him raise one hind leg ; at that moment, 

 by feeling both reins, I oblige him to put that foot 

 down, back instead of forward. I do not throw the 

 horse off his balance, and he can continue stepping 

 back, with as little effort as stepping to the front. 

 23. — Do the hand and leg work separately ? 

 Ans — No, they should always assist each other. 

 24. — ^\Vhen circling on the forehand do you ever 

 halt the horse ? 



Ans. — Yes, when the leg is applied, the horse moves 

 from, it, but when the pressure ceases, the horse should 

 no longer step from it, otherwise when once he begins 

 passaging, he is not easily stopped, and to prevent a 

 horse getting into this bad habit, as well as to teach 

 him to collect himself whenever the leg is applied, 

 after each step in circling on the forehand, I stop him 



