3i8 BREAKING FOR SPECIAL WORK. 



pressure of the leg, and to make the necessary changes at 

 the canter, of his own accord, without the signal from the 

 rider's heel (see page 248). Thanks to the admirable 

 memory of the horse, it is easy to teach him both systems. 

 He should also be taught to jump well, and for that reason 

 should be thoroughly broken to the snaffle before using the 

 curb. As the cavalry soldier in action will have his right 

 hand occupied with his sword or lance ; perfection in one- 

 handed riding should, above all things, be demanded from 

 his horse, which, being obliged at times to cross a "difficult" 

 country, will be all the better for knowing the direct in- 

 dications of the two-handed system of riding, as well as the 

 reversed ones of the one-handed style. In this there need 

 be no chance of confusing the horse, which is fully capable 

 of correctly answering direct and reversed indications, as we 

 may any day see in the case of young horses ridden in a 

 halter without a bit and with a single rope as a substitute 

 for the reins. In teaching a horse to obey the indications 

 of the reins held in one hand, we may begin by taking a 

 rein in each hand, and then proceed, while making the turns 

 and circles, to gradually diminish the lateral effect of the 

 inward rein on the mouth, and increase the effect of the 

 outward rein on the neck, until the latter can be used to 

 the almost entire exclusion of the former. I may point out 

 that we should endeavour to finally obtain the turn by 

 merely laying the outward rein on the neck ; for the more 

 we pull on it, the more will we draw the muzzle away from 

 the side to which the horse is being turned ; and, conse- 

 quently, the indication on his mouth will be contrary to 

 that on his neck. 



