290 KESTIVENESS : ITS PREVENTION AND CUBE. 



properly-fitting and carefully-adjusted bit being trans- 

 mitted directly to the anterior extremity of the spinal 

 column, and indirectly through the medium of the reins 

 towards the centre of motion, will regulate the amount 

 of action most effectually. The two figures of Plate V. 

 illustrate in different senses what we have here en- 

 deavoured to convey by words. The upper one shows a 

 horse whose hind legs are subject to no efficient or 

 direct control, the action both of the bit and of the 

 rider's legs being concentrated altogether on the fore- 

 hand through the diagonal tread on the stirrup and the 

 pull on the reins directed upwards towards the rider's 

 neck. The lower figure, on the contrary, shows a horse 

 whose body moves under the perfect control of the rider : 

 the tread on the stirrup is vertical, the pull on the reins 

 not far from horizontal, and directed towards the rider's 

 seat and the common centres of gravity and motion. 

 Both figures sit nearly exactly on the same part of their 

 respective horses. The great difference between the 

 seats lies in the position of the leg from the hip, and 

 especially from the knee, downwards ; whilst the great 

 difference in the carriage of the two horses lies in the 

 respective positions of their necks. Some of the other 

 plates illustrate the same thing in different ways. 



