RIDING AND TRAINING. IOQ 



that the animal would be disposed to obey through 

 involuntary muscular action, it is not difficult to 

 teach a horse to perform the movements by indica- 

 tions that are directly opposed to their first and 

 ordinary effects ; and it may be seen that if two 

 effects of a rein are not kept distinctly marked 

 the horse may soon become confused whenever 

 either of these effects is given. In the same manner, 

 the reins being carried in the right hand and the 

 left hand resting upon the left snaffle rein, the horse 

 will be taught to turn to the left. 



With the snaffle initiating the turn, and after- 

 wards with the curb reins alone, the horse should be 

 ridden in circles, gradually decreasing in size, and in 

 serpentine lines, so that the animal will obey with 

 promptness, ease, and grace all the indications of the 

 opposite rein, the shoulders conforming to the cir- 

 cumference of the circle, the head a little bent in the 

 direction in which the horse is turning, the croup 

 following the path of the shoulders. After the 

 horse has been thoroughly trained to this in- 

 dication of the curb bit, the reins should be carried 

 in the left hand, and the horse be accustomed 

 to work to either side by the direction of the bridle 

 hand." 



These things are not to be accomplished at once, 

 but the reader should know the highest ends of the 



