19^ BREAKING ON FOOT. 



The more he is inclined to "play up," the shorter, as a 

 rule, should this martingale be, so as to afford increased 

 control. Its use will be needed at first in the large majority 

 of cases, and is of great service in preventing the rein from 

 getting over the back, as well as in giving the breaker com- 

 mand over refractory subjects. In only a few instances, the 

 employment of a bearing-rein, for keeping the head up, will 

 be found necessary ; and much more often with " spoiled " 

 horses than with young ones. The severity of either of 

 these forms of restraint should be lessened according as the 

 horse learns to obey the rein, and may be dispensed with 

 when their use is no longer required. Before turning the 

 horse, say, to the left, I change the reins into my right hand 

 with the right rein crossed under the left rein. I then 

 take a long step to the front with the left foot, slide my 

 left hand forward on the left rein, and, having got the 

 proper length, pull the left rein (see Fig. 92), while 

 letting the right one slip through the right hand, until the 

 horse is made to turn to the left. As soon as he is in the 

 new direction, I pass the right rein into my left hand 

 and crossed under the left rein. We should continue the 

 turns until the horse answers the rein as readily with his 

 hind-quarters as with his head ; that is, until he learns to 

 turn on his centre. 



In turning the horse at the walk or trot, it is necessary, 

 in order that the movement may be executed with precision, 

 that the head of the horse should be turned towards the 

 new direction by the rein, at the moment, or immediately 

 before, the fore foot of the opposite side comes down on 

 the around, so that, when turning, he may not cross his 



