286 SCHOOL BREAKING. 



such as rearing, prancing, and refusing to turn to one 

 particular side, is generally the result of the breaker 

 demanding too much, continuing his demands too long, 

 treating the animal harshly, and especially applying the 

 aids in a confusing manner. 



M. James Fillis justly points out, in his Principes de 

 Dressage et d' Eqttitation, that geldings are more suitable 

 for high-school work than either mares or entires ; the 

 former being specially liable to jib and to become irritable 

 on being touched with the spur ; the latter, to rear, and to 

 become unduly heavy on the forehand. 



Collecting the horse at the halt. — To teach a horse 

 to collect himself at the halt, we may, while holding the 

 reins and whip, as in Fig. 95, place ourselves to the left of 

 the near shoulder and make the horse extend himself by 

 tapping him with the whip behind the fore legs. To 

 prompt him to relieve himself out of this constrained posi- 

 tion, we may tap him with the whip on the croup, so as to 

 make him bring up his hind legs, which, on account of the 

 remembered relief, he will soon learn to do, on being 

 touched with the whip in this manner, without having pre- 

 viously brought his fore legs to the front. To be precise, 

 we should touch the near or off side of the croup to make 

 the horse bring up, respectively, the near or off hind 

 leg. If necessary, we can prevent him by the reins from 

 going forward, or from turning round. Having taught 

 him on foot to collect himself at the halt, we may mount 

 him, and by holding the reins in one hand and by touching 

 him on the croup with the whip held in the other hand, we 



