GENEBAL RULES. 301 



it ; whereas when it is going forward, the contrary effect 

 is produced, and the stopping work done by the rein, 

 as already explained in the preceding chapter. 



It has been shown above that, with the cavesson, it 

 is possible to lay the foundation for forward action by 

 making the horse, in the first instance, circle with his 

 hind quarters round the forehand. When mounted, 

 precisely the same method may be employed with great 

 success. The rider commences by lifting the horse's 

 neck and head with both reins until the animal's mouth 

 is somewhat higher than his own knee, keeping the 

 calves of his own legs well closed on its ribs ; then, by 

 a gradual shortening of one rein say the right one he 

 gets the head round till the forehead comes to be 

 parallel to the horse's backbone, and places his right 

 hand firmly on the saddle behind his own right knee, 

 and so gets a downward pull on this rein, whilst with 

 the left one he keeps the horse's head and neck in the 

 proper position. Frequently a mere increase of pressure 

 of the right calf will now suffice to unfix the horse's legs, 

 and make it circle with the croup round the fore legs, 

 which remain on the spot, and finally induce it to go 

 ahead. Of course the outer, here the left, leg, of the 

 rider must be kept well closed up, so as to determine 

 the velocity at which this circling is done, and the 

 extent to which it should be carried, as also to be in 

 perfect readiness to act in unison with the other leg, 

 and with both reins, to determine the horse to move 

 straight ahead when it evinces the disposition to do so. 

 But still more frequently, perhaps, the pressure of the 

 calf will not suffice, and then one must use the spur 

 freely, and this will generally succeed. Dead pulling 

 on the reins will not do ; the rider must increase and 



