234 MOUNTED BREAKING. 



right rein while keeping the left hand steady, so as to 

 obtain the desired step to the rear. For the left diagonal 

 (near fore and off hind) step, we should use the reversed 

 aids. During the rein-back, the driver should draw his 

 right foot back and apply it the moment the right fore 

 foot comes down ; for at that moment, the right hind being 

 more advanced under the horse's body than the left hind 

 leg, it is the proper one with which the horse should take a 

 step to the rear. When the rider applies his drawn-back 

 right foot in this manner, he may touch the left shoulder of 

 the horse with his left foot, so as to give the animal the 

 signal to raise and draw back the left fore leg at the same 

 time as he raises and draws back the right hind leg. The 

 reversed aids are to be applied to obtain the other step. 

 We should here, for applying the foot, take our time from 

 the respective supports of the fore feet ; because they are 

 easier felt than those of the hind feet. If at the com- 

 mencement of the rein-back from the halt, one fore foot 

 of the horse be more advanced than the other, we should 

 turn the animal's head towards it, apply the drawn- 

 back leg of the opposite side, and proceed as before 

 directed. If he fails to obey the aids, he should get a 

 repetition of his previous instruction on foot in them. 



The walk. — The horse uses his head and neck as a 

 balancing pole in no pace so much as in the normal walk, 

 in which, forward progression is obtained as much as 

 possible by displacement of weight with a minimum of 

 propulsion. The horse accordingly brings his head down 

 so as to increase the instability of his equilibrium, and 



