COLLECTING THE HORSE. 239 



the saddle he should constantly keep in mind the maxim 

 that one should ride more by the legs than by the hands, 

 so as to teach the horse to go collectedly (see page 81) 

 when required. This collection can be obtained by using 

 the drawn-back heels as a stimulus to the respective hind 

 legs, so that the hind feet may be brought further under 

 the animal's body at each step than they would be were 

 the heels not applied to the horse's sides. Their effect, 

 combined with that of the hands in preventing any increase 

 of speed, will naturally be to lighten the forehand. The 

 manner in which the legs should be applied so as to 

 produce the best effect, is described on page ()6. As the 

 extension of the neck will be proportionate to the forward 

 reach of the fore legs, and, consequently, other things being 

 equal, to the speed ; the position of the hands should 

 remain fixed while the animal's speed remains uniform. 

 Thus, the horse, on finding that he cannot extend his head 

 and neck beyond the limits allowed him by his rider, w^U, 

 in response to the application of the heels, bend his head 

 and neck as well as his loins, and will become " collected." 

 As the hands have to regulate the movement, the im- 

 pulsion must be excited by the legs, whip, or voice, 

 before the reins are " felt." Hence, in no case should 

 these stimulating aids and the regulating and controlling 

 one of the hands be used simultaneously. A worse mis- 

 take, in that it renders the meaning of the rider still more 

 ambiguous to the horse, is to feel the reins and then to 

 apply the heels, the only interpretation of which proceed- 

 ing possible to the horse would be that the rider wished 

 him to halt and rear up. It must be patent to every 



