86 THEORY OF MOUTHING. 



abstaining as much as possible from bringing his hind legs 

 under his body. I may remark that the horse makes the 

 same ''defence" when he is "tied up" by side reins (see 

 page 102). Baucher (see page 282), who was the great 

 reformer in school breaking and riding, insisted on the 

 principle of bcancoiip dc javibcs et pen de main. By this 

 he meant that the pressure of the legs (with a touch of 

 the spurs when necessary) should be used in order to 

 bring the horse's hind legs under him, and consequently to 

 relieve the forehand of weight. In this way he obtained 

 le rassemblcr (collection of the horse), which he justly 

 regarded as an indispensable means of breaking. I may 

 mention that the maintenance of the horse's head in a 

 vertical position, which is a condition of Baucher's 7'as- 

 senihlcr, is a refinement of no practical utility. As I have 

 already remarked, the large number of our saddle horses 

 which are '* heavy in front," is the best proof that the 

 majority of Englishmen who get up on horses, ''ride the 

 bridle," and neglect the use of the legs as an "aid." At 

 the same time, I must say that every fine horseman in our 

 midst is quite as alive as Baucher was, to the importance 

 of riding more by the legs than by the hands. The 

 breaker should constantly bear in mind the necessity of 

 teaching his saddle pupils to obey the indications of both 

 legs and reins, so that they may be able to be collected 

 when required. 



Respective actions of the snaffle and curb. — The 



indications of the curb are complex and indirect, and 

 prompt the horse either to fight against them, or to unduly 



