The Hand. 



and hurt himself, as a bold and firm rider who 

 has never learnt to manage his bridle. 



The principle upon which the horse is con- 

 trolled by the bridle is a very simple one. No 

 horse can, or at least no horse will, execute any 

 pace without stretching and relaxing his neck 

 or crest in time to the action of his legs. If, 

 therefore, we can restrain this movement of 

 the horse's crest, we disable him from advanc- 

 ing by moving his legs. This is effected by 

 fastening in his mouth a steel machine termed 

 a Bit, attached to a leather strap termed the 

 Rein. The rider holds the rein in his hands, 

 and may, if he can pull it with sufficient 

 strength, keep the horse's head by main force 

 in such a position that he cannot extend his 

 neck. And if you can do this, whether by 

 forcibly drawing down the horse's nose to his 

 chest or by compelling him to raise it into the 

 air, there can be no doubt that you will effect- 

 ually prevent any ordinary horse from either 

 walking, trotting, or galloping. 



This, it is quite clear, is physically impos- 

 sible. The neck of the smallest pony is far 

 stronger than the arms of the strongest man, 

 even if assisted by the weight of his shoulders. 



