. WHIP AND SPURS. 251 



as to infirmity behind or in front should naturally be taken. 

 Although the most sudden halt possible from a high rate of 

 speed may at times be absolutely required, I need hardly 

 say that the more gradual the halt, the less liable will it 

 be to injure the horse. Believing that the horse knows 

 more than his rider about the manner in which the weight 

 on his legs should be adjusted, I am a strong advocate of 

 teaching the horse to stop by a signal (for instance, the 

 voice) unconnected with the aids, which may or may not 

 be rightly applied. With a horse thus instructed, the 

 capable rider would content himself with giving the signal, 

 and with looking after the adjustment of his own weight 

 (by sitting tight in the saddle and leaning back), over 

 which the animal could, of course, exercise no control. 



Whip and spurs. — These articles of riding gear may 

 be used as aids or as stimulants. Their function as aids is 

 to make the horse remove from their contact that portion 

 of his body which is touched or threatened by them, or to 

 check its approach, if it happens to come in their direction. 

 Thus, in the turn on the forehand, we cause the hind- 

 quarters to revolve in the desired direction by the pressure 

 of the drawn-back heel ; and in the turn on the hind- 

 quarters (see page 293), we check that movement by the 

 same means, in which case the pressure has to be patiently 

 borne — not avoided. When we use whip, spurs, or un- 

 armed heels as a general stimulant, we should manifestly 

 apply them, as nearly as possible, at a point midway 

 between the respective actions of the fore and hind legs ; 

 that is, close behind the girth. 



