The Legs. 5 1 



But the case is very different when the 

 horseman knows how to catch and balance in 

 his hands the weight which he has thrown for- 

 ward by means of his legs. The horse may 

 spring forcibly from his hind-quarters, but 

 the bent position of his neck keeps his mouth 

 sensitive, and disables him from carrying the 

 impulse of his spring so far as to increase his 

 pressure upon the bit. The rider has, there- 

 fore, obtained the equilibrium which is the 

 object of every skilful horseman. The horse, 

 as it is technically expressed, is before the legs 

 and behind the hands. In other words, he is 

 ready to spring forwards or sideways at the 

 slightest touch of the leg, and yet is restrain- 

 able from doing so by the slightest feeling of 

 the hand. 



In my instructions how to acquire the pro- 

 per use of the legs or spurs, I shall of course 

 take for granted that you are mounted upon 

 a horse sufficiently well broken to obey with 

 perfect docility the ordinary indications of a 

 skilful horseman. In England this sort of 

 animal is not always easy to procure, but 

 with a little patience you will probably succeed 

 in getting one quite good enough for your 



E 2 



