74 Horse and Man. 



the leg is the keystone of the horse's education. 

 Without it, the lightest mouth and the finest 

 hand are of no more avail than a good rudder 

 and a skilful helmsman when the boat has not 

 steerage way. What does a horse care for 

 your perfect command of his head and neck, 

 so long as he feels that, by running backwards 

 or sideways, he can go where he pleases in 

 spite of you ? He knows, if you do not, that 

 it is the leg which must place him in that 

 position which alone will allow the hand to 

 exercise any efficient control over his move- 

 ments. 



Nor is this all. A horse which does not 

 obey the leg cannot have a permanently light 

 mouth. It is impossible to prevent such a 

 horse from occasionally, for a short distance, 

 running away with you. Once permit him to 

 draw back from the bit, and he can if he 

 pleases come upon it with a rush which will 

 for the moment carry all opposition before it. 

 It is therefore absolutely necessary, in riding 

 fiery and impetuous horses, to lose no time 

 in getting them well in hand by the use of the 

 legs or spurs. Your only chance of keeping 

 such a horse in perfect command is to detect 



