2 ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



the rider. The reins will act to direct the forehand 

 and to restrain the horse, the heels will incite action 

 and govern the movements of the hind-quarters. 

 The hand and heels, acting together, will collect the 

 forces of both extremities, so that they may be under 

 the immediate control of the rider. To have the 

 horse light, easy, and obedient, the forehand and 

 the hind-quarters must work in unison ; then the 

 effects of the bit will be felt by the mass, and the 

 action of the heels will influence all the parts. But 

 if the horse be not collected, the forehand would 

 turn at the indication of the bit, while the hind- 

 quarters would follow the original direction, until 

 they were forcibly dragged after the forehand ; or, 

 in answer to the heels, the hind-quarters might be 

 thrust upon the unprepared forehand, and make 

 that part heavy and constrained in action. Of 

 course at liberty the horse requires neither reins nor 

 heels to direct and control its motions, but when 

 it is mounted, and its impulses are checked and 

 thwarted, the animal obeys those indications of the 

 rider that it understands ; so when the forehand is 

 pulled in a certain direction, and the hind-quarters 

 receive no orders, the latter part will not conform 

 its movements to those of the disconnected fore- 

 hand in a manner that will give light and easy 

 action. Each extremity of the horse must be pre- 



