RIDING AND TRAINING. 8 1 



legs being carried under the mass and the forces of 

 the extremities are brought into equilibrium. These 

 matters will be treated further when we come to the 

 work in the double bridle. 



To move the horse forward in the walk the rider 

 will gather the reins until he can feel the mouth of 

 the horse. The legs will then be pressed against 

 the sides of the horse, and the hands will, by a series 

 of gentle vibrations, act against the mouth. When 

 the horse bends the neck, yields the jaw, and sustains 

 its head without support from the bit the animal 

 is ' in hand/ and ready for a forward movement. 

 It is a rule, to be always observed in collecting the 

 horse, that the application of the heels should pre- 

 cede the operation of the hands, otherwise it will be 

 impossible to govern the movement, for the hand 

 can restrain the horse but cannot prevent it falling 

 back. The horse having been placed ' in hand ' in 

 the manner above described, the rider will continue 

 the pressure of the heels and yield the hands suffi- 

 ciently to give the animal liberty to proceed at a 

 walk. No effort will be made to keep the horse 

 closely collected, but the forehand must not be per- 

 mitted to get heavy, nor will the hind- quarters be 

 allowed to drag. If the horse bears upon the hand 

 it must be made to carry the forehand up by light 

 pulls upon the rein, and the heels will keep the 



