114 ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



To make the horse back, the rider will first place 

 the animal, standing in place, in hand. The pres- 

 sure of the legs will be continued until the mass is 

 thrown slightly forward, and a hind-foot is detached 

 from the ground. The pressure of the legs will 

 then be eased, and the hand will be brought in so 

 that the raised hind-leg is carried to the rear. (Fig. 

 20.) The hand and legs should then cease acting, 

 and the horse rewarded for its obedience. Two 

 steps backward may next be demanded, the legs 

 closing lightly against the sides of the horse, as each 

 hind-leg is brought back, and the hand acting at the 

 moment each hind-leg is raised. By slow degrees 

 the horse may be brought to go backwards any 

 distance without losing its lightness. After the 

 second or third lesson the horse should be made to 

 advance after it has made the last required step to 

 the rear, without coming to a halt or becoming 

 heavy, by the hand being carried forward, and the 

 legs acting with sufficient vigour against the sides. 

 As each hind-foot is brought to the ground, the 

 legs of the rider will receive the impulse to pre- 

 vent the movement becoming too rapid, and as 

 each hind-leg is raised, the hand will gently 

 bring back the forces of the forehand to produce 

 the movement. Both the hand and the legs must 



