94 Horse and Man. 



before you repeat the lesson. Watch him 

 narrowly while using your hands on the 

 move, and meet him with your legs the mo- 

 ment you perceive that he is carrying back 

 his weight instead of yielding his mouth. He 

 will soon begin to find out that the former 

 movement is always checked, and therefore 

 that the latter, being the only alternative, 

 must be desired. 



When your horse advances quite collectedly 

 at a walk, or, in other words, when you find 

 that the pressure of your hand always brings 

 his head home before it shortens his step, you 

 may practise him at reining back. Get him 

 collected at a halt as before, increase the pres- 

 sure of your legs very gently, and the moment 

 you feel that his weight is flowing forwards so 

 that he can freely move his hind legs, use the 

 hands to make him step backwards instead 

 of advancing. As soon as he takes a single 

 backward step, drop your hands and legs 

 and make much of him. Continue the lesson 

 until he takes three or four backward steps 

 in succession, and repeat it until he reins 

 back as easily and collectedly as he walks 

 forward. 



