66 THEORY OF MOUTHING. 



The whip or stick may be used either as a local or as a 

 general stimulant to movement. The local effect may be 

 converted, by association of ideas, into a general one. Thus, 

 although the purely instinctive result of a cut of the whip 

 on the hind-quarter or on the shoulder might respectively 

 be a kick or a bite at the supposed aggressor ; it will be 

 taken by many saddle and harness horses as a signal to go 

 on, independently of the position of the seat of pain. The 

 same remark applies to the application of the legs, feet, or 

 spw's, the effect of which may be the same, whether they prick 

 the stifles, score the sides, or rip the shoulders. Here we have 

 a manifest loss of useful power, in that, with either the whip 

 or feet, we can obtain with the properly broken-in horse at 

 least seven valuable indications (or signals) instead of only 

 one. Thus, the application of the drawn-back foot, or of the 

 whip when used in a similar manner, will, for instance, check 

 the tendency of the hind-quarters from swinging round 

 when a turn is being made to the opposite side (two 

 indications, one for each side). When the rider's foot is 

 advanced and the shoulder is touched by the front and 

 inner edge of the boot, an indication similar to the one 

 behind is given in front (two indications). The applica- 

 tion of both drawn-back feet will cause the horse to bring 

 his hind legs under him — that is to the front (one indica- 

 tion). A similar use, in front, of both feet advanced will 

 make him extend his fore legs to the front (one indication). 

 The application of both heels or spurs at a point midway 

 between the respective spheres of action of the fore and hind 

 limbs may be fairly accepted as a stimulant to both (one 

 indication). As I shall later on attempt to investigate the 



