The Nerves. 75 



and counteract his first attempts at insubordi- 

 nation, and this you cannot do if you allow 

 him to go behind his bridle. 



Moreover, a horse which does not readily 

 obey the leg can never be ridden at speed with 

 comfort or safety. He cannot extend himself 

 at full gallop without throwing his weight for- 

 ward, and he cannot throw his weight for- 

 ward without becoming to a certain extent 

 unmanageable by the hand. A good horse- 

 man whose horse has succeeded in bolting will 

 therefore, before he takes a pull at the bridle, 

 always endeavour to collect the pace by the use 

 of the legs or spurs. If he succeeds, the horse 

 will come together and yield to the hand at 

 once. If he fails, it will cost him some time 

 and exertion to pull up. We all know that 

 race-horses, which are educated for speed 

 alone, perpetually contrive to run away with 

 the best jockeys in England. 



If you find yourself mounted upon a fiery 

 and violent horse which has not been properly 

 broken, your only resource will be in the de- 

 licacy of your bridle hand. Here, I freely 

 acknowledge, science can do but little to assist 

 you. Science can teach you how to ride a 



