202 BREAKING ON FOOT. 



In solving the question of adjustment of" weight in the 

 rein-back, we should fully utilise our power of placing the 

 horse's head in whatever position we like (whether by 

 lowered rein, rein on pad, standing martingale, bearing- 

 rein, or by the help of an assistant), and that of 

 mobilising the hind-quarters by means of the whip. In 

 executing the rein-back, the horse should be light behind 

 and should lift up his hind feet well, so that his movement 

 to the rear may be executed with safety and freedom. 

 Consequently his head, which is the weight at the end of 

 the balancing pole of his body, should be kept consider- 

 ably lower (see Fig. 7) than if the movement was to the 

 front. We should here particularly avoid the run-back, 

 in which the horse is liable to fall down on account of the 

 preponderance of the weight being on the hind-quarters. 

 In this case the centre of gravity of the horse's body is 

 brought to an undue extent to the rear, and the ability of 

 the hind legs to form new bases of support is diminished 

 in proportion to the weight imposed on them. 



After we have obtained the correct rein-back, we should 

 practise the horse — with the outward rein round his quarter 

 or on the pad, as may be required — at walking in a col- 

 lected manner, using the whip as a stimulant, the outward 

 rein as a substitute for the drawn back outward leg of the 

 rider, and both reins as a restraint and as a guide. The 

 outward rein, if shaken against his hind-quarters, may serve 

 as a slight though useful incitement for making the horse 

 collect himself. Reining him back from time to time, as 

 may be required, will often be found serviceable in this 

 " setting-up drill." 



