BREAKING TO HARNESS 89 



After this the horse should be taught to " rein- 

 back " by bending his head to the right with the rein 

 on the same side. Concurrently with this, moreover, 

 you should make the left rein press against his hind 

 quarters, thus preventing him by the pressure applied, 

 from turning round. The object in view in teaching a 

 horse to rein back is, of course, that he may learn to 

 respond to the pressure of the reins with both fore and 

 hind parts of the body. 



In this connection there are important differences 

 to be noted in different types of horses. A saddle 

 horse, for instance, when reining back, must, in order 

 to throw weight on the forehand, lower his head, and 

 in this way give the necessary lightness to the hind 

 quarters. A horse used for heavy draught purposes, 

 on the other hand, elevates his head so that the fullest 

 pressure shall be felt behind. For instance, supposing 

 that a horse is standing squarely, i.e., with all legs 

 equally advanced, and you wish the operation of 

 " reining back " to begin with the near hind foot, 

 then turn the head of the animal to the "right" 

 by feeling on the "off" rein (at the same time 

 using the long rein on the " near " side so as to 

 press against his quarter), and in this way make the 



