Suppling the Horse. 99 



you very soon will, that you can place your 

 horse's head to the right or left by the mere 

 touch of the opposite rein, it is time to teach 

 him how to shift his hind quarters. Collect 

 him as before, and then gradually close one 

 leg to his flank behind the girths. Maintain 

 and increase the pressure, assisting it if neces- 

 sary by a touch of the whip or spur, until he 

 begins to circle on his fore legs in the opposite 

 direction. The moment he makes a decided 

 step from the leg, let him stand at ease and 

 caress him. Continue the lesson until he 

 has thus executed a complete circle to each 

 hand; and repeat it until he circles smartly 

 and easily, without attempting to stiffen his 

 crest or shift his fore legs. Permit him during 

 this interval, or if necessary assist him, to bend 

 his neck and turn his head towards the leg 

 from whose pressure he is moving his hind 

 quarters. 



When you are successful in this lesson, and 

 not till then, endeavour to circle your horse 

 upon his forehand with his neck bent and his 

 head looking in the same direction. This 

 is a position which most horses are at first 

 very reluctant to maintain, and which must 



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