4O ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



If, after the rider has gained the saddle, the horse 

 gives a few leaps or curvets, without forcing the 

 hand or bearing upon the bit, it is better to take 

 no notice of the action. It certainly should not 

 be caressed, as that might be misconstrued as an 

 encouragement to repeat the misconduct ; nor should 

 the whip or spurs be resorted to, unless the rider be 

 desirous of deciding the mastery in battle. If the 

 horse carry the head too low, with the intention per- 

 haps of ' bucking/ some short, sharp pulls upon the 

 snaffle reins from below upwards will elevate the 

 head. If the nose be thrust out, some light vibra- 

 tions of the curb reins will bring the head into 

 position. If a rider permits his horse to acquire 

 the habit of starting suddenly whenever a vehicle 

 approaches, he may cure the fault by driving the 

 animal a few times in double harness, and by after- 

 wards riding it in a crowded thoroughfare, where a 

 horse is much less likely to misbehave than upon a 

 lonely road where a noisy cart is occasionally met 



Rearing. It is very seldom that a horse will rear 

 to a dangerous height, if there be no pressure upon 

 the bit. If the horse rear, the rider should yield 

 the tension upon the reins and lean forward, and as 

 the fore-feet are about to come to the ground, he 

 should administer a sharp blow with the whip upon 

 the hind-quarters, or give a quick pressure with 



