96 Horse and Man. 



rake and bore against the bridle, keep your 

 hand steady and touch him lightly with the 

 spurs, so as to drive his haunches under him 

 and take his weight off his fore legs. He will 

 discover, as soon as his muscles become accus- 

 tomed to the constraint of his new position, 

 that he can go upon his haunches with more 

 ease and safety to himself than he can upon 

 his shoulders ; and when he is quite convinced 

 of this, your work is so far done. 



2. Bending the Horse. You have now, in a 

 certain sense, got perfect command of your 

 horse. You can drive him forward at your 

 pleasure by your legs, and restrain him at 

 your pleasure by your hand. He is therefore 

 completely at your disposal, so long as you 

 merely require him to carry you at a straight- 

 forward walk or trot. But convenience, not 

 to say safety, will demand something more 

 than this. To turn smartly, to step sideways 

 freely, and to canter collectedly with either leg, 

 are accomplishments which every horse deserv- 

 ing to be called a clever hack may fairly be 

 expected to possess. We will now consider 

 in what manner a horse which is already well 



