HORSEMANSNIP 17 



back to a walk, easing- the pressure on the 

 bridle as soon as he drops Into the desired pace. 

 At all paces the same action should be used, 

 the process being gentle pressure till the horse 

 Is going up to his bit, then when he goes 

 beyond the desired pace a gentle pull until 

 he orlves, when his mouth should be at once 

 eased. It may be taken that many of the 

 faults of a horse arise In the first Instance from 

 misuse of the bridle. It Is, therefore, most 

 necessary that our horseman, who can sit on 

 without holding by the reins, should treat the 

 horse's mouth gently. If riders would only 

 consider that the horse s mouth is a most valu- 

 able possession, they would perhaps treat It 

 more tenderly. But no one is able all at once 

 to attain such skill as to be able to ride as he 

 ought. It requires a steady purpose and much 

 practice, and for this purpose I advised above 

 the use of the rldlnor-school and the bendlnpf- 

 course. Good horsemanship, like every other 

 kind of skill, Is the result of some aptitude and 

 a great deal of will to succeed. Horsemanship, 

 even of a very moderate kind, Is not common 

 among men who ride much, but a little study and 

 pains will go a long way to give it. In these 

 little home riding-schools much may be done by 

 practising simple exercises and seeing that you 

 can, by a pull on the rein and a pressure of the 



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