io6 



METHODS OF HORSE-CONTROL. 



stiffen his muscles (keep them in a state of contraction) 

 against any movement demanded from him by us. Hence, 

 the more we induce him to relax them, the nearer shall we 

 be to our object of making him " give in." Gentling is 

 therefore a valuable means for making horses docile, and 

 for giving them confidence. 



Holding and leading a comparatively quiet horse. — 



The best way to hold a fairly docile horse while standing 



Fig. 13. — Holding horse, 



at his near side, is to draw the snaffle reins over his head, 

 hold them at the centre in the full of the left hand, and 

 catch both reins near the rings of the snaffle with the right 

 hand, having the little finger between them (see Figs. 1 3 



